Daniel Ali, a Trinidadian man who is wanted in his homeland for fraud, was yesterday sentenced to two years in jail for forgery and making a false declaration.
Ali was faced with three charges when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in Georgetown.
The first charge alleged that between January 3, 2017 and May 19, 2017, at Georgetown, Ali conspired with a person or persons to forge a Republic of Guyana driver’s licence in favour of himself in the name Seelall Madiah, purporting to show same was issued by the Guyana Revenue Authority.
It was also alleged that on March 23, 2015, at the Central Immigration and Passport Office, Ali applied for the purpose of procuring a passport and signed to a written declaration that he was Seelall Madiah.
Finally, it was alleged that he overstayed between June 23, 2014 and May 20, 2017, at Georgetown, having been permitted to stay in Guyana until June 23, 2014.
Ali, who claimed that he was a carnival and interior and exterior designer, pleaded guilty to the three charges.
The prosecution told the court that the defendant went to the Passport and Immigration Office on March 15 to make an application for a Guyanese passport and it was discovered that he had overstayed by over two years. He was then charged with the crime and contact was later made with Interpol and it was discovered that he is wanted in Trinidad for fraud and larceny.
When asked by the Chief Magistrate if he had anything to say in relation to the overstaying charge, the defendant told the court he lost track of time.
In relation to the charge of making a false declaration, the prosecutor stated that when the defendant went to the Passport and Immigration Office, he stated that the lost his passport and produced documents with the name Seelall Madiah. However, when checks were made, the defendant’s photo was found beside the name Daniel Ali.
The Chief Magistrate later fined Ali $30,000 or a default sentence of eight weeks in jail for the overstaying charge, while she ordered that he serve one year in jail for each of the other charges, which will run consecutively.
