A Berbice man who was nabbed at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri after illegally departing Guyana through Springlands, Corentyne was yesterday fined $30,000 with an alternative of three-months jail.
At the Georgetown Court yesterday before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, it was alleged that Mohammed Ali, 27, of Berbice, on September 23, 2013 left Guyana via an illegal port for Suriname. Ali did not deny the act but said that he was unaware that that port was illegal. Ali was arrested upon his return to Guyana after spending three months in the USA.
Ali told the court that he had made prior arrangements with his family to fly to the USA via Paramaribo, Suriname but he missed the ferry from the Guyana-Suriname crossing at Springlands. It was then that he proceeded via the backtrack crossing. Ali said that it was his first time travelling. After his return to Guyana three months later at the CJIA, Ali was told of the offence and arrested and charged.
