Six Colombian nationals, said to be among those taken into custody after last week’s raid on the Rio Inn nightclub, were yesterday charged with fraud and with overstaying their time in Guyana.
The six women were brought before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, where they each faced with the two charges.
It was alleged that from the period of April to July 14, at Georgetown, Seleyny Rodriques, 24; Yesenia Holiguin, 26; Yaliana Parez, 29; Elizabeth Rosario, 29; Estefani Orozco, 29; and Shakira Alcantara, 20, with intent to defraud, conspired with a person or persons to forge an extension of stay or work permit in their passports, purporting to show that the same was issued by the Central Immigration and Passport Office.
It was also alleged that they failed to comply with conditions subject to which permit was granted for entry into the country and overstayed their time.
All of the women entered guilty pleas to both charges when they were read.
Attorney Mark Waldron, who appeared on behalf of the defendants, told the court that they had been in custody since last Thursday. He said too that they had not wasted the court’s time and that a flight had been secured for them for tomorrow afternoon.
Each defendant was subsequently fined $20,000, with an alternative of four weeks in jail, for overstaying and $30,000 with an alternative of eight weeks in jail for fraud. They are to be deported upon the payment of the fines.
