A DOMINICAN Republic national was fined $200,000 by Magistrate Fabayo Azore on Wednesday after she pleaded guilty to two charges relating to passport fraud.

Ysabel Cuzma Benitez, 31, admitted that between May 13, 2016 and December 20, 2016 at Georgetown, with intent to defraud, she conspired with persons known and unknown to forge an immigration stamp in her Dominican Republic passport, purporting to show that same was issued by the Guyana Immigration Department.
Benitez further admitted that on April 13, 2017 she showed to Constable Capel Samaroo, an immigration officer, a Dominican Republic passport in favour of herself with a forged Guyana Immigration service stamp, purporting to show that same was issued by the Guyana Immigration Department, knowing same to be forged.

Police Prosecutor Simone Payne told the court that the woman arrived in Guyana legally on February 2, 2017 at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport and was granted one month’s stay. Prosecutor Payne disclosed that the foreigner applied for an extension of stay and was granted same.

According to the prosecutor, upon placing the endorsement stamp in her passport, it was discovered that she had a previous extension stamp in her passport and it was forged.

The prosecutor said that Benitez claimed she paid a man US$500 for the stamp. Failure to pay the fine will see her spending six months in jail.