A Cuban was charged and released on bail at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts after he was allegedly caught at the Guyana Passport Office with a forged passport stamp.
Thirty-six-year-old Kenlhys Hernandez Cartaya appeared before Magistrate Faith McGusty on Wednesday and denied the charge which stated that on January 6, 2020, at the Central Immigration Passport Office, Georgetown, with intent to defraud, he uttered to Jenell Lovell, an Immigration Officer, one Cuban passport in favour of himself containing one forged Guyana immigration stamp.
Defence counsel Latchmi Rahamat, in a bail application, told the court that Cartaya and his wife entered Guyana illegally; however, the couple are presently working with a United Nations organisation which assists persons like them who came to Guyana to get jobs.
She added that the couple work as interpreters, adding that her client was not a flight risk.
However, the Prosecutor objected to bail citing the prevalence of the offence and the fact that the Cuban man has no ties to Guyana.
Cartaya was released on $100,000 bail. As a condition for bail, he is required to report to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters every Monday until the completion of the case. The matter will continue on February 5, 2020.