Three days after being freed of aiding in the trafficking of 11 kilogrammes of cocaine at Pomeroon, Essequibo River, four Colombian nationals were yesterday fined for overstaying in Guyana.
In addition, one of the four men was also ordered deported after the payment of his fine.
Three of the four men were brought before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, who read the overstaying charges to them in Georgetown.
The three were Yeison Sanchez, 27, Reginaldo Jaramillo Rodrigues, 45, and Jesus Amaya, 52.
It was alleged that Sanchez, between November 18th, 2017 and January 2nd, 2018, having been permitted to stay in Guyana from October 18th, 2017 to November 17th, 2017, overstayed.
The charge against Rodrigues stated that between September 25th, 2017 and January 2nd, 2018, he overstayed, having been permitted to stay from August 25th, 2017 to September 24th, 2017.
Finally, the charge against Amaya stated that between September 20th, 2017 and January 2nd, 2018, he overstayed, after being permitted to stay from August 20th, 2017 to September 19th, 2017.
A guilty plea was entered by each accused.
Police prosecutor Gordon Mansfield told the court that the defendants came to Guyana legally and were each granted a month-long stay. On January 2nd, 2018, he noted, ranks from the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit carried out a raid at Grant Woodland, Pomeroon where a quantity of narcotics were found. As a result, the defendants were arrested and charged with aiding in the trafficking of the narcotics. On July 27th, 2018, the charge was dismissed. Mansfield added that the men were later taken into custody and charged for overstaying.
The Chief Magistrate later fined each man $20,000 or a default sentence of eight weeks in jail.
Meanwhile, the other man, Wilinton Reyes, who was also freed of the aiding to traffic cocaine charge, was charged with overstaying in the courtroom of Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman. The charge against him stated that between October 23rd, 2017 and January 2nd, 2018, at Georgetown, he failed to comply with condition, having been permitted to stay in Guyana from September 23rd, 2017 to October 22nd, 2017. He, too, pleaded guilty to the offence and was subsequently fined $50,000 or a default sentence of one month in jail.
Magistrate Latchman then stated that upon paying the fine or serving the default sentence he is to be deported.
