Man accused of fake Guyana immigration stamps in Antigua passport

Last Updated on Saturday, 26 December 2015, 21:00 by GxMedia

A man accused of inserting four false Guyana immigration stamps in an Antigua and Barbuda passport was Wednesday arraigned on a charge of conspiracy to commit a felony and he was granted bail.

Thirty-seven year old Emram Mohabir of 1020 Canefield, East Canje, Berbice was granted GUY$200,000 bail by Chief Magistrate, Priya Sewnarine-Beharry. He also has to report to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters.

Mohabir has to return to court on February 17.

The prosecution had objected to bail on grounds that Mohabir might flee the jurisdiction because he was keen on leaving Guyana.

Although he pleaded guilty, a not guilty plea was entered by the Magistrate after the court heard his explanation. The facts ate that between January 4 and January 10, 2014 he conspired with a person or persons unknown at Georgetown to insert the bogus Guyana Immigration Stamps in an Antigua and Barbuda passport number B010000 in favour of himself, purporting to show that same was issued by an immigration officer knowing same to be false.

Mohabir told the court that an unknown person had delivered the passport and other travelling documents at Trinidad’s Piarco International Airport in keeping with arrangements that had been made by his sister. The man said he was unaware that the Guyana Immigration stamps were fake.

The defendant said he was given a package which the passport and other travelling documents by an unknown man at Trinidad Airport which was arrangement by his sister. He added that he was not aware that the stamps were false.
 
Police Prosecutor, Inspector Michael Grant told the court that the Mohabir is a Guyanese with family connections in Canada.  Holders of Antigua and Barbuda passports do not require visas to travel to Canada. Grant said that during December 2013, the accused and his relatives arranged for him to travel to Canada. He left Guyana on January 11 for Trinidad using his Guyana passport and entered Trinidad with the Antigua and Barbuda passport in the name of Vijai Ramdass with his (Mohabir’s) photograph.
 
According to the Prosecutor, Mohabir was on a Canada-bound flight via Guyana. While the plane was on the ground at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, airline security personnel observed that Mohabir’s name was not on the passengers’ manifest.

Attorney-at-Law, Paul Fung-a-Fat told the court that his client had been going to visit his ill sister in Canada. He asked the court to be lenient with Mohabir especially since he admitted to committing the offence.