A Police Prosecutor was reprimanded by a City Magistrate after indicating to the court that he has no objections to three Cubans being released since the prosecution will be withholding their passports as evidence.
The three Cubans were charged for forging Guyana Immigration stamps in their Cuban passports.
The Magistrate immediately questioned the basis on which the Prosecutor was holding on to the Cuban Government’s property.
The City Magistrate then ordered the Police Prosecutor to read the fine print in the passports, but the Prosecutor explained that he was unable to do so, given the language barrier.
The Prosecutor said they will seek advice on their next move.
The City Magistrate told the three Cubans, through a Spanish translator, that the court will keep the passports in safe custody until the Cuban Ambassador is available to pick them up.
The Magistrate added that the Cuban passports should have been lodged at the Embassy of Cuba.
The three Cubans – Alvin Rodrigues, 44; Andez Rodrigues, 38; and Alleen Abask, 34; were each granted $80,000 bail for forging Guyana Immigration stamps into their Cuban passports.
It was alleged that on October 9, 2016, at Moleson Creek, Corentyne, with the intent to defraud a Police Constable of three Republic of Cuba passports in favour of themselves, the trio forged Guyana Immigration stamps purporting to show the same to ranks of the Immigration Department at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, knowing same to be false.
The men are scheduled to make their next court appearance on October 25, before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan for assignment and statements.
