A woman was yesterday fined $150,000 after she admitted to forging birth certificates for herself, her husband and their three children in a bid to obtain passports.
If she fails to pay the fine, Seeta Persaud will have to spend six months in prison, Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry ordered yesterday, when the case was called in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court One.
“Yes. I have made a mistake. Now, I realise and I apologise for it,” Persaud said.
When asked whether she knew that the certificates were forged, Persaud responded in the affirmative.
The woman accepted that on June 23, at the Central Immigration and Passport Office, she uttered to Orin Parris five forged birth certificates purporting to show that same were issued by the General Register Office (GRO), knowing that they were forged.
Additionally, Persaud pleaded guilty to five counts of forging dates on the birth certificates for herself and each family member.
The charge stated that between June 19 and June 23, at Belvedere Corentyene, Berbice, with intent to defraud, she changed the date March 14, 2011 to March 14, 2014 on each of the documents, one in favour of herself, her husband, Heramoony Rangasami and her three children.
After hearing the case, the magistrate informed Persaud, who was unrepresented by counsel, that she would be fined $150,000 or would have to serve six months imprisonment.
The woman was given one month to pay the fine after explaining to the court that she did not have the money to make the payment immediately.
