Jail for Guyanese held with bogus TT passport

GUYANESE immigrant Davendranauth Ramnarine has been ordered by Arima Court Magistrate Gloria Jasmath to pay $4000  immediately or spend 18 months in prison with hard labour.

Ramnarine, 35, was held at the Piarco International Airport on November 16, by immigration officers based at the airport, a few hours after entering TT. He was handed over to the Port-of-Spain CID after he attempted to board a Caribbean Star airline bound for the US with a tampered Republic of TT passport. According to reports, on tendering the passport and other travel documents, the immigration officer noticed discrepancies and contacted police.

Ramnarine and the bogus documents were handed over to the police.
Checks by the officers revealed that the passport, which bore a photo of Ramnarine, originally belonged to John Boodoosingh of St James, who had earlier reported it stolen. When called on to plead, the Rahaman Street, Corriverton Village, Guyana resident admitted guilt and begged the court mercy, claiming he was sorry and just wanted to go to Queens New York to make a better life for his family. The magistrate, however, admonished the father of two for his crime before passing sentence. A crying Ramnarine, who had no money, was led away to the waiting prison transportation. Detective Christopher Swamba laid the charge.