CANADA-BASED Nazir Khan, who was charged with trying to board a flight to Canada with Twa-Twa birds, pleaded guilty Monday when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry. 

The section under which the defendant was charged, however, had various types of birds listed, but not the Twa-Twa.
On Monday Khan pleaded guilty to the offence that said last Friday at Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri, East Bank Demerara, he was exporting 22 Twa Twa birds without obtaining a permit or a certificate from the authorities.
Police Corporal Bharat Mangru, prosecuting, told the court that the defendant was an outgoing passenger on flight BW606 destined for Toronto, Canada. During a procedural check of his carry-on luggage, a number of small whistling birds were found in hair curlers.
The unrepresented defendant told the court that he was unaware that he had to be permitted to carry the birds. He apologised and told the ccourt that the birds were for his personal amusement.
He was placed on $75,000 bail and told to return to court today when he would know his fate.

(By Geeta Rampersaud)