Brazilian charged for forging Guyana birth certificate

Sep 02, 2017 Court Stories, Features / Columnists, News

A Brazilian woman on Thursday found herself standing before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer to a charge of forgery.

Benedita Lemos Derocha

Fifty-two-year-old Benedita Lemos Derocha, a businesswoman, denied the charge.
It is alleged that on August 30 at Central Immigration and Passport Office, Georgetown, with intent to defraud, she uttered to Police Constable Kevin King, an immigration officer, one forged birth certificate in favour of herself, purporting to show that same was issued to her by the General Register Office, knowing same to be forged.
The woman’s attorney in his application to secure bail for his client told the court that his client was unlikely to flee to Brazil, citing that the situation clearly shows that she was trying to strengthen her Guyana ties rather than flee.
However Police Prosecutor Arvin Moore objected to bail being granted to the defendant based on the serious nature of the offence and the fact that the defendant is a Brazilian and if granted bail, she would not return to court for the trial.
The prosecutor also outlined that this country’s border is not secure to the highest extent and the defendant would likely flee to Brazil.
According to the prosecution’s facts, the defendant met someone at her restaurant, who promised to get her a Guyana birth certificate for free, to which she agreed.
The court heard that when further investigations were carried out, it was revealed that the defendant has a Guyana Identification card.
Chief Magistrate granted bail to the tune of $150,000. A condition of the bail is that the defendant report to the Criminal Investigation Department until the completion of the trial. She will make her next court appearance on September 13.

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