A Somalian national, who claimed he used a forged British passport to enter the country in search of asylum, was yesterday fined and ordered deported.
Hali Shaik Mohammed, 25, is alleged to have uttered a United Kingdom passport, in the name of Steven Wrightstone and bearing his photograph, purporting to show same was issued by the British government, to police constable Steven Williams on March 9 at Lethem.
Subsequent to being read the charge by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in Georgetown, Mohammed pleaded guilty.
When asked why he came to Guyana, Mohammed told the court that he came seeking asylum.
According to the prosecution, on March 9, Mohammed travelled to Lethem, via Brazil. It was while in Lethem that he uttered the passport with a picture bearing his likeness and the name Steven Wrightstone. When the name was entered into the Interpol system, it was revealed that the passport was reported stolen. The defendant was then told of the offence and arrested.
In mitigation, the defendant started that he was sorry and requested that the Government of Guyana forgive him for what he did.
Mohammed was later fined $100,000 or a default sentence of four months in jail. Upon the completion of the payment of the fine or serving of the default sentence, Mohammed is to be escorted to the nearest port of exit.
