VENEZUELAN fishing boat captain, Irashy Zapata, who clinched a plea deal at New Amsterdam Court, in Berbice, yesterday forfeited a 500 kilogrammes catch of fish valued $494,000. Magistrate Adela Nagamootoo made the order to confiscate the marine produce to the State of Guyana.
The Ambassador for Venezuela, Mr. Dario Morandy, who was present in court, undertook to have Zapata sent back to their native land, after the magistrate ruled that the fishing vessel and its relevant documentation returned to the captain.
Zapata had, previously, pleaded guilty to having fished in Guyana waters without a valid foreign fishing licence, last January 19.
The court was told that the defendant and his alien crew were intercepted by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guards 38 nautical miles North of the Berbice River estuary.
They were held and taken to Ruimveldt Police Station, prior to Zapata’s appearance before Acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, who denied him pre-trial liberty and remanded him to prison, following his not guilty plea.
The case was then transferred to New Amsterdam Court where Ms. Sharon Balasar, from the Venezuelan Embassy in Georgetown, acted as translator.