On Monday, 20th March, 2023 in Magistrate Court #5, thirty (30) foreign nationals were arraigned before Senior Magistrate Derence Rolle Davis, for various immigration offenses.
On the charge of Overstaying, eight (8) Haitian nationals pled guilty and were fined $300.00 to $3,000.00 or, in default of payment, serve prison time at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDOCS) ranging from five days to six months. Three (3) Venezuelan nationals pled guilty and were fined $500.00 to $1,500.00 or, in default of payment, serve prison time at (BDOCS) ranging from ten daysto two months.
Also, four (4) Jamaican nationals pled guilty and were fined $100.00 to $500.00 or, in default of payment, serve prison time at (BDOCS) ranging from five days to one month. One (1) Colombian national pled guilty, and was fined $300.00 or, in default of payment, serve ten days at (BDOCS) and one (1) Ecuadorian national pled guilty and was fined $1,000.00 or, in default of payment, serve one month at (BDOCS). In addition to the charge of Overstaying, one (1) Venezuelan male was also charged with Harbouring illegal persons and the case was adjourned to 30th March, 2023.
Further, twelve (12) Haitian nationals pled guilty to the charge of Illegal Landing. Four (4) were fined $300.00 or, in default of payment, serve five days at (BDOCS), five (5) had their cases adjourned to 3rd
April, 2023 and three (3) ordered deportation.
One (1) Haitian resident (Permanent Residence) pled guilty to the charge of Harbouring illegal persons, and was granted bail in the amount of $3,000.00 with two sureties and the matter adjourned to 31st May, 2023.
Upon payment of all fines and completion of sentences, all migrants were ordered to be turned over to the Department of Immigration of deportation.
The public is reminded that the Department is committed to executing our mandate to ensure compliance with Statue Laws of our country.
