Cubans convicted for fake American passports

Last Updated on Tuesday, 8 December 2015, 21:48 by GxMedia

Five Cubans were Tuesday convicted and fined a total of GYD$500,000 for uttering forged United States (US() passports  at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport

They were each fined GYD$100,000 after they pleaded guilty to the offence.

Convicted were craftsman, Dianh Jose Lautoledo,25, Andy Lau Almager,33, and fisherman Maikel Edwards Hernandez, 35, auto parts dealer Enrique Hidalgon Lopez,44,  and 32-year old fishmonger Xavier Hernandez Ferrer.

One of the accused admitted to uttering forged US passports to a Suriname Airways Manager, Rudyard Westburg on December 5, 2015 at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.

The other charge states that between November 13, 2015 and December 5, 2015 at Georgetown they conspired with person or persons unknown to forge the American passports by inserting  their photographs to show other names.

Police prosecutor Deniro Jones told the court that the Cubans purchased the forged passports for US$2,000 each from someone whom the police was still searching for.

 Almauer  was fined GYD$20,000 and Lautoledo GYD$30,000 after they pleaded guilty to overstaying their permitted time – November 13 to 28, 2015- and instead remained here between November 29 and December 5, 2015. Almaguer.

If they fail to pay the fines, they will be jailed for three months.

Defence Lawyer, Peter Hugh told the court that the quintet came to Guyana to shop for Christmas but ended up in trouble.