Cuban charged for forging immigration stamp

Jan 09, 2020 News

A Cuban national was yesterday granted bail following a strong application by his lawyer for a charge in which he allegedly forged an immigration stamp.

Kenlhys Hernandez Cartaya

Kenlhys Hernandez Cartaya was arraigned in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty.
He denied the charge which read that on January 6, 2020 at the Central Immigration Passport Office with the intent to defraud, he uttered to Jenell Lovell, an Immigration Officer, one Cuban passport in favour of himself containing one forged Guyana immigration stamp.
The defendant was represented by Attorney-at-law Latchmie Rahamat who asked that bail should be granted in the most reasonable sum.
She added that Cartaya is a 36-year-old chef at Italian Grill of 53 Pere Street Kitty, Georgetown. According to the lawyer, her client once resided and worked in Venezuela after marrying there.
Rahamat told the court that despite holding a Cuban passport, her client now finds himself in Guyana following the humanitarian issues that are occurring in Venezuela.
Moreover, she said that since Cartaya and his wife came here, they did so legally and have been gainfully employed. She included that her client’s wife has been working with the United Nations organization to assist persons like themselves who came to Guyana to get jobs.
The lawyer also pointed out the presence of her client’s employer and members of the United Nations organization who came to provide support to the defendant who is strongly denying the allegation against him.
Nevertheless, the police prosecutor objected to bail being granted to the defendant under the grounds of the prevalence of the offence and the fact that Cartaya is not a Guyanese and he poses a flight risk.
But the magistrate upheld the submission of the lawyer and granted bail in the sum of $100,000 under the condition that the defendant report to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters every Monday pending the outcome of the case.
The matter was then adjourned to February 5, 2020.