Fifty-two-year-old Manuel Fernandez, a Spanish-speaking foreigner from Peru was on Thursday arraigned before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts for overstaying his time in Guyana in violation of instructions stipulated in his travel document and without seeking an extension of stay.
Fernandez appeared before the court of Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan who read the allegation detailing that between June 4, 2017 and September 10, 2017 at Georgetown, in the Georgetown Magisterial District, he failed to comply with conditions subject to which any permit had been granted, that is to say having been permitted to stay from March 4, 2017 to June 3, 2017, he overstayed the said period.
The unrepresented accused who cut a lone figure before the court of the Chief Magistrate, denied the allegation instituted by the State and continued to maintain his innocence by entering into a not guilty plea.
Prosecution counsel was led by Police Prosecutor Arvin Moore and bail was refused in light of the existing issue of border insecurity which opens a gateway for persons evading the law to easily and illegally enter the neighbouring country of Brazil, thereby undermining the laws of Guyana.
He was remanded to prison pending the outcome of trial which is expected to commence shortly. Fernandez will return to court on September 25, 2017.
