Two sisters from Venezuela, who were yesterday charged with entering Guyana illegally, were fined while a probe was ordered into allegations that they were abused during their stay here.
A city court heard that on July 23, at Charity, Essequibo, Vladmyre Abrio, 22 and Leslie Abrio, 18, of Venezuela, entered Guyana by sea and disembarked without the consent of an immigration officer. The women pleaded guilty to the charges when it was read to them by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.
Police Prosecutor Sophia Sardinha told the court that on the day in question, the women came to Guyana in a small boat from Venezuela and did not notify an immigration officer of their presence in the country. On September 13, at Linden, where they stayed, the women were arrested by the police because they had no documentation proving that they entered the country legally.
However, through an interpreter, the women told the court that they were sorry that they came to Guyana illegally. They also said that they had no idea that any laws were broken as they thought they entered the country the right way.
The sisters also informed the court that during their stay here a lot of bad things happened to them. They said that while they were staying at a friend in Linden, they endured beatings and were abused. The sisters told the court that while they made a report to the police, at this point in time all they would like to do is to go home.
However in light of the allegations of the abuse, the Chief Magistrate informed the women that she has ordered a full investigation.
The sisters were subsequently fined $20,000 each with an alternative of four weeks in jail, after which they will be deported to Venezuela. The magistrate told the investigating rank that investigations into the women’s allegations of abuse must be completed before the women depart the country.
