JIANG Ping Ren, a Chinese businesswoman, was yesterday remanded to prison when she appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson charged with being an illegal immigrant.
Ren (no address given), pleaded not guilty to the charge, through interpreter Yumai Zhang.
It is alleged that, between April 8 and 27 last, she failed to comply with the conditions subject to which her permit had been granted.
Attorney-at-law Mohamed Zafar made an application for bail, but the magistrate denied the request, noting that the defendant was not granted an extension to stay in the country.
Ren was remanded to prison until June 11.
A few hours later, other attorney-at-law Mr. Robert Corbin asked the magistrate to recommit the matter on the basis of humanitarian causes.
Corbin explained that the defendant is the mother of a four-month-old baby and would need to nurse her child.
He said the Criminal Investigations Department, which is carrying out this investigation, was not opposed to the defendant being released on bail.
He said a formal application by his client is before the Ministry of Home Affairs for an extension and that her husband is involved in business in Guyana.
Police Inspector Stephen Telford, prosecuting, said releasing the defendant on bail is tantamount to releasing an illegal immigrant in the country.
Telford said according to a letter from the Home Affairs Ministry, the defendant was asked to present herself to the police station to provide an explanation as to the reason she needs an extension.
The Magistrate told Corbin that she had already dealt with the matter and that the issue of her extension permit must first be sorted out before bail could be considered.
She informed him that her position remained the same with regard to granting bail and the case will continue on Friday.
Corbin said he was going to approach the High court to secure the grant.