A Cuban chef, who was arrested at the Mabura checkpoint after the police discovered that he overstayed in the country, was yesterday fined for the offence and ordered deported.
Eulises Marquez Echevarria pleaded guilty to the charge that from July 14th to August 15th, 2019, at Georgetown, having been permitted to stay in the country from June 14th to July 13th, 2019, he overstayed.
The charge was read by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
After pleading guilty, Marquez, via translator, said that he was unaware that he was committing an offence when he decided to overstay. He explained that he went to the “ministry” to get an extension but never got through. “I came to the country to work and see the country” he added.
According to Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield, on July 14th, Echevarria was Echevarria was allegedly en route to Brazil when he was caught by ranks at the Mabura checkpoint. He presented his passport and the ranks observed that he overstayed. He was arrested and escorted to the Criminal Investigation Department’s headquarters.
Echevarria was subsequently fined $20,000. If he is unable to pay the fine, he will serve the default sentence of two weeks in jail. After paying the fine or serving the sentence, he will be escorted to the nearest port of exit.
