Two St. Lucian men who were charged for illegally entering St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) were fined and ordered removed from the state when they appeared in the Kingstown Magistrate Court on Tuesday, November 22.

The men have been identified as Kimey Paul and Merenus Christopher.

Senior Magistrate, Rickie Burnett ordered the removal of the defendants and Paul was fined $300.00 on each of his four charges, while Christopher, who was facing three charges, was fined $250.00 on each charge.

The magistrate ordered the men to pay the fines forthwith in default of which they faced a prison sentence of one month on each charge, to run concurrently. The fines were paid on the same day; the men therefore escaped a prison term.

Paul, who was arrested in Bequia was charged for entering the state of St. Vincent and the Grenadines other than at a port of entry, and he being a prohibited immigrant did enter the state by a boat without a passport. In addition, he was charged for entering the state by a boat and disembarking without the consent of the immigration officer, and for knowingly and wilfully allowing himself to be landed as a prohibited immigrant.

Christopher also was slapped with similar charges.

He was charged for entering the state of St. Vincent and the Grenadines other than at a port of entry. Christopher was also charged that he entered the state by a boat and disembarked without the consent of an immigration officer. His final charge was that he, knowingly and wilfully allowed himself to be landed as a prohibited immigrant.

Both of the defendants pleaded guilty to the charges. They were represented by counsel, Grant Connell.

The court heard that PC 761 Pompey headed a team of Rapid Response Unit personnel on duty at Hamiliton Bequia on November 18 at the home and premises of Fletcher Goodluck to execute a search warrant in respect of controlled drugs, unlicensed firearm and ammunitions.

On searching the said house, two men were met in the downstairs of the premises. They were questioned, and gave their names as Kimey Paul and Merenus Christopher of St. Lucia. Both men were taken to the Port Elizabeth Police Station and transported to the Central Police Station on the mainland the following day.

The immigration department was informed of their presence and they were cautioned and interviewed by an Immigration Officer.

They voluntarily gave statements where they admitted to entering the state by boat. All ports of entry were checked and no record of the defendants entering the state was found.

Senior Magistrate, Rickie Burnett ordered the removal of the defendants and Paul was fined $300.00 on each charge, while Christopher was given a fine of $250.00 on each of his charges.

RELATED ARTICLE: Court orders deportation of four Trinidad men on cocaine and ammunition charges, one fined (+Video)