Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan fined two Pakistani men $100,000 each on Thursday morning for uttering false documents to a Fly Jamaica Airline representative at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).
Arshad Mehood Munghal pleaded guilty to the charge that he on March 21, 2017, at the CJIA, with intent to defraud, presented one passport in his name bearing his photograph purporting that same was issued by the Government of Italy, knowing same to be forged.
The other defendant, Ashan Riaz Munghal admitted to a similar charge that he on the same day at the said location, with intent to defraud, presented one passport bearing his name and photograph purporting that same was issued by the Government of Spain.
The duo begged the court’s forgiveness, sincerely apologising for their actions and requested to be sent back to Brazil.
The court heard that the men left their home country for Brazil in hopes of securing a better life. The Munghal relatives reportedly entered the jurisdiction via Lethem, sometime in late February and were granted one month stay in the country.
It was when the Munghals attempted to leave Guyanese soil on a Canada-bound flight that their passports were discovered to be fake. Checks made with Italy and Spain revealed that both travel documents were reported to have been stolen or lost.
The Magistrate ordered both men to pay a fine and be escorted to the nearest port of exit after paying same or serving a default sentence of eight weeks in prison.
