Guyanese jailed for nine months

A GUYANESE man who was arrested on the weekend while about to board a flight for Canada at Piarco International Airport was yesterday jailed for nine months when he pleaded guilty before a San Fernando magistrate to making a false declaration to the Immigration Department.

Hameed Ali, 40, of West Coast Demerara, Guyana, received the sentence from Acting Deputy Chief Magistrate Mark Wellington who presided over the First Court, where Cpl Wendell Fernando was the prosecuting officer. In relating the facts to the court, Cpl Fernando said on November 15, Ali went to the Coffee Street, San Fernando office of the Immigration Department and tendered a completed Trinidad and Tobago passport form in an attempt to obtain a passport. The form presented the name “Kazim Ali.” He was arrested at Piarco Airport last Saturday while attempting to board a plane en route to Canada.

The accused was taken to the  Port-of-Spain Immigration Department where he was interrogated and subsequently charged by PC Abraham of  Port-of-Spain CID. In court, Ali apologised for committing the offence. He explained to the court that he wanted to achieve a better life in Canada so he could maintain his family. When the Magistrate  passed the sentence, Ali shook his head slowly and looked at the Magistrate as he was being led out of court.