[www.inewsguyana.com] – Twelve Nepal nationals who were recently remanded to prison for illegally departing Guyana were today fined $30,000 each after changing their plea to guilty.
The charge against Nebrew Sherpa, Shankar Shapota, Benod Jeshe, Prakesh Adi-Khan, Tengi Sherpa, Tengi Cherping, Seetang Goorung, Danraj Timsena, Villey Pouden, Kunjab Guruaging, Cunja Goorung and Prakesh Nipali is that on November 15, at Charity, Essequibo, they departed Guyana without presenting themselves to an immigration officer.
They made their first appearance before Magistrate Ann McLennan on December 08 and pleaded not guilty through an interpreter.
Attorney-at-law, Mark Conway told the Court that his clients are all victims of human trafficking. He explained that since November 15 they were arrested in Venezuela and placed in a prison.
The Lawyer asked that the Court be lenient with the men, noting that they suffered abuse recently and did not waste the Court’s time.
They were given two weeks to pay the fine and will remain in police custody until they are deported to Nepal.
The Court heard that the men entered Guyana legally via the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri, East Bank Demerara and some of them were granted two weeks stay in Guyana, while others were granted three weeks.
They then departed Guyana from Charity and were arrested in Venezuela for not being in possession of a Venezuela visa. However, they were deported back to Guyana.
