A 36-year-old Jamaican national was yesterday fined $100,000 after he admitted to using a forged Guyanese passport.
The charge alleged that Ricardo Browne on April 23rd, at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri with intent to defraud, uttered to Kevin Grant, an immigration officer, a forged Republic of Guyana Passport, to say that same was issued by the Central Immigration and Passport Office Guyana, knowing same to be forged.
Browne admitted to the offence.
The facts in relation to the matter, which were presented by Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield, stated that on the day in question, Browne entered Guyana via CJIA, using Copa Airlines, and presented a passport bearing the name “Jermaine Samuels”, but which displayed Browne’s photograph.
The immigration officer then reportedly entered the passport’s number into the Border Management system and discovered that the passport was issued to Ashana Singh. The passport corresponding with that number was reported stolen or lost.
Further examination of the passport revealed that it had been tampered with.
As a consequence, Browne was fined $100,000 by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan. If he is unable to pay the fine, he will be required to serve eight months in prison. As soon as the fine is paid or the time is served, Browne will be deported.
