TWENTY-SEVEN-year-old Berbician Mohamed Ali was yesterday fine $30,000 with an alternative of three months’ imprisonment when he appeared before Chief Magistrate, Priya Sewnarine-Beharry to answer an illegal departure charge.Ali pleaded guilty to the charge that, on September 23, at Springlands, Corentyne, Berbice, he illegally departed Guyana for Suriname.

The defendant told the court: “I made previous arrangements to fly to the United States (U.S.) with my family via Paramaribo, Suriname, but I missed the ferry”.
Ali added that he proceeded to Suriname via Springlands, and spent three months in the U.S; and upon his return at Timehri, he was informed that he was wanted. He was subsequently arrested and charged with the present offence.

The defendant apologised to the Chief Magistrate, stating that he was not aware he had done something illegal.