VENEZUELAN national, Johanna Adreina Heredad, 18, pleaded guilty to illegally entering Guyana on August 14 when she appeared before Georgetown Magistrate Hazel Octive-Hamiltonon Monday. Particulars of the offence are that, on the day in question, the Venezuelan national entered Guyana without travel documents through Pomeroon, and failed to present herself to an immigration officer.

Police Inspector Burgett Grant, prosecuting, said that after illegally entering Guyana, the Venezuelan then proceeded to her friend’s home at Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo; but on August 16, the defendant was standing on the Tuschen Public Road when police stopped and questioned her.

According to Prosecutor Grant, the defendant told police she had no travel document, and the police escorted her to the station, where she was arrested and charged.

Attorney-at-law Melvin Duke, representing the defendant, informed the court that his client left her home in Venezuela in search of her fiancé who resides in Guyana.

He said his client has no negative conduct, and she travelled to Guyana by herself.

Duke requested that his client be placed on a nominal fine, without custodial penalty.

The defendant was fined $50,000 or six months’ imprisonment. She is to be deported after the fine has been paid.

In event of the fine not being paid, the defendant will serve a six-month jail term in Guyana before being deported.