[www.inewsguyana.com] – Twelve nationals from the state of Nepal have been languishing in the Sparendaam and Vigilance Police Lockups for close to seventeen days awaiting deportation as ordered by the Court.
They had pleaded guilty to illegally departing Guyana and were fined $30,000 each.
The charge against Nebrew Sherpa, Shankar Shapota, Benod Jeshe, Prakesh Adi-Khan, Tengi Sherpa, Tengi Cherping, Seetang Goorung, Danraj Timsena, Villey Pouden, Kunjab Guruaging, Cunja Goorung and Prakesh Nipali is that on November 15, at Charity, Essequibo, they departed Guyana without presenting themselves to an immigration officer.
They made their first appearance before Magistrate Ann McLennan on December 08 and initially pleaded not guilty through an interpreter.
Commander of ‘C’ Division (East Coast Demerara), Christopher Griffith confirmed that the men are indeed in the lockups. He said that six are being kept at the Vigilance Police Station and the other six at the Sparendaam Police station.
He said the men will only be able to leave the country when they purchase their tickets.
During their court appearance, Attorney-at-law, Mark Conway said that his clients are all victims of human trafficking. He explained that since November 15 they were arrested in Venezuela and placed in a prison. [Leroy Smith]
