The Tribune

By FARRAH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

THREE Jamaican women, caught residing in the country on fraudulent extension visas they claim they bought from an immigration officer, were each fined $3,000 yesterday.

Deidre Thomas, 35, Tallathia Edwards, 21, and Ashley Richards, 18, appeared before Magistrate Samuel McKinney after they were found in Marsh Harbour, Abaco after the expiration of the time granted to them by an immigration officer to remain in the country.

The court was told the accused were turned over to the Immigration Department in Abaco by members of the Royal Bahamas Police Force. While in custody, the women presented their Jamaican passports to the officers for checks to be made in their system. Investigations revealed that Richards and Thomas had entered the country in December and had been given permission to stay for about three weeks.

All of the accused then showed immigration officers a copy of three email messages indicating that the department had granted them three months extensions. However, when inquiries were made, it was revealed that the documents were fake. When questioned in custody, Thomas, Edwards and Richards said they had purchased the fraudulent visa extensions from an immigration officer for $400.

According to the prosecution, Thomas and Richards had overstayed for six days, while Edwards was found residing in the country 23 days after her legal documents had expired.

After the women pleaded guilty to one count each of possession of fraudulent documents and overstaying, they were each fined $2,500 or six months on remand for having the fake visas and another $500 or one month behind bars for residing in the country on expired visas.

Magistrate McKinney said that after they paid the fines or completed the sentences, they would be turned over to the Director of Immigration who would determine whether they would be deported or not.

In a separate matter, a Haitian man and woman who were found living in Abaco without the required legal documents were each fined $300 yesterday.

Jacquelin Desravines, 40, and Aliene Touissaint, 32, were charged with illegal landing after they were found in Hope Town, Abaco, having entered the country without the leave of an immigration officer.

The prosecution said that around 4am on January 30, police officers contacted immigration officials on the island in reference to both accused. When questioned, Desravines and Touissaint could not produce legal documents to prove their status in the country. They were subsequently arrested and taken to the immigration office in Marsh Harbour for further processing. The court was told that further investigations revealed that Desravines had come to the country in 2017 and had recently applied for a work permit that had been denied. The court was told Touissaint also told officers she came to the country sometime last year.

During the hearing, both accused pleaded guilty. As a result, Magistrate McKinney fined them $300 or one month in prison.

He said once the fine was paid, Desravines and Touissant would be handed over to the Director of Immigration for deportation.