A national of the Dominican Republic accused of forging a Guatemalan passport was remanded to prison when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
Jose Medina appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan who read two charges to him. It is alleged that on November 18th while at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Medina uttered to Surij Smith, police constable #25098, at the immigration office, a forged Republic of Guatemala passport in favour of himself, purporting to show that it was issued by the Directorate General of Immigration in Guatemala, knowing same to be forged. It is also alleged that on the same date at the Eugene F. Correia International Airport, Ogle, with intent to defraud, he uttered to Tekia Azore, a woman who is police officer #22339, a forged Republic of Guatemala passport in favour of himself, purporting to show that it was issued by the Directorate General of Immigration in Guatemala, knowing same to be forged.
Attorney Adrian Thompson entered an appearance for Medina. After his client pleaded not guilty to both charges, the attorney told the court that Medina is from Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic. He said that Medina is a 26-year-old father of one, who left Guyana and was deported back after being denied entry in Barbados. He also informed that the man’s family insists that the passport is genuine.
Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield told the court that Medina came to Guyana using the same passport at the CJIA on the 18th of November. Medina, on the said date, departed Guyana via the Ogle Airport using the same passport once again. However, he said, at Barbados, it was discovered that the passport was forged and Medina was immediately deported to Guyana. During investigations, he admitted to the police that he forged the document while in the Dominican Republic, the prosecutor claimed.
Medina was remanded to prison and will return to court today.
