A 26-year-old citizen of The Dominican Republic was, on Wednesday, November 20, 2019, remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, for being in possession of a forged passport.

Jose Alberto Medina appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and pleaded not guilty to two charges.

Particulars of the first charge stated that, on November 18, 2019, at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) Timehri, East Bank Demerara, with intent to defraud, he uttered to Suresh Smith, a Police Constable, one forged Republic of Guatemala passport in favour of himself, purporting to show that same was issued by the Guatemala Immigration Department, knowing same to be forged.

The second charge stated that, on November 18, 2019, at the Eugene F. Correia, Ogle International Airport, with intent to defraud, he uttered to Niketa Azore, an immigration officer, one forged Republic of Guatemala passport in favour of himself, purporting to show that same was issued by the Guatemala Immigration Department, knowing same to be forged.

The court heard that Medina was able to pass through the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) and then the Eugene F. Correia, Ogle International Airport with a forged passport. The authorities in Barbados observed that his passport was forged and denied him entry into the country.

Attorney-at-law Adrian Thompson who represented Medina asked the court to grant his client bail and told the court that his client came to Guyana to travel to another country.
Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield told the court that, on the day in question, Medina came to Guyana through CJIA using his Guatemala passport. He then left and went to the Ogle Airport using the said passport and boarded a flight to Barbados. Upon his arrival in Barbados, the authorities observed that his passport was forged and denied him entry to the country.

Mansfield added that the authorities then sent him back to Guyana and, on his arrival here, he was kept in custody. While in custody at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), an investigation was conducted and it was observed that his passport was forged. He then admitted to the police that he purchased the passport in Dominica.
Magistrate McLennan, after listening to the prosecutor, remanded Medina to prison until November 21, 2019, when additional relevant information should be available.