Brazilian woman charged for failing to declare large amount of US$ at airport

Last Updated on Wednesday, 15 April 2015, 18:06 by GxMedia

The Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) of the Guyana Police Force has seized more than US$10,000 from a Brazilian woman and placed her before the court on Wednesday.

Marisa Silva Cardosa of Ituni Street, Bel Air Park pleaded not guilty to the charge that she failed to declare US$11,000 to customs and immigration on December 4, 2014 at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

She was granted GUY$100,000 bail and ordered to return t court on April 23 by Chief Magistrate, Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

Cardosa’s lawyer, Mark Waldron, asked the court for her to be released on her own recognizance, but a Prosecutor for SOCU objected and insisted that the woman be granted her pre-trial liberty on the basis of substantial bail.

Waldron said SOCU has held the money.

SOCU was established last year to fulfill the requirements of regional and international watchdogs against financial crimes- Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

Amendments to the 2009 Anti-Money Laundering and Countering of Financing Terrorism (AML/CFT) Act have been held up by bickering between the government and the opposition.