A Brazilian national was yesterday fined a total of $150,000 for forging immigration stamps in his passport.
Through an interpreter, Carlos Costa, 23, admitted to the two charges against him but indicated that he did not know the stamps were forged.
It was alleged that on June 16, at Ogle, East Coast Demerara, Costa presented his Brazilian passport, number FG305893, with a false immigration entry stamp, purporting it to be genuine, to a police constable. Additionally, it was alleged that Costa, on the same day, conspired with a person or persons unknown to forge two Guyana immigration entry stamps in the said passport at Moleson Creek.
When the case was called before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, the interpreter provided to Costa informed the court that he pleaded guilty to both charges. She also said that he related to her that he was not aware that the stamps were forged.
Costa was represented by attorney Patrice Henry, who said that his client came to Guyana to do gold mining. He requested a non-custodial sentence.
Henry’s request was granted and Costa was ordered to pay a fine of $75,000 on each charge or serve three months imprisonment.
