BVI News

Venezuelan fined $1K for illegal entry

Rafael Josue Torres Guerrero

Venezuelan national Rafael Josue Torres Guerrero has been fined $1,000 for entering the British Virgin Islands illegally.

The 31-year-old pleaded guilty to the offence of illegal entry when he appeared before Magistrate Christilyn Benjamin on Thursday.

He is to pay the fine in full today, Friday, February 7, or in default, he will spend two months at Her Majesty’s Prison in Balsam Ghut.

What the court heard happened

The court heard that while on mobile patrol in the Trellis Bay area on February 3, members of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force spotted a go-fast boat entering the harbour.

The boat was void of light and three persons were spotted onboard.

The trio later disembarked and entered two separate vehicles in the parking lot and left shortly thereafter.

The police followed the moving vehicles and intercepted them in the Lambert area.

The now-convicted man was among three persons in the vehicle, the other two were British Virgin Islanders.

All three were transported to the Road Town Police Station where their passports were checked, and it was found that the Venezuelan native had no entry stamp by an Immigration Officer in the BVI.

He was arrested on suspicion of illegal entry. It is not clear if the locals were charged with any offences.

I’m sorry

Through an interpreter, Guerrero told the court that he was sorry for committing the offence.

“I really want to apologize for entering illegally … send me back to my country, I will not do it again,” he said.

His attorney, Leroy Jones said the electrician had no previous convictions in his home country or in this jurisdiction and urged the court to temper justice with mercy.

Jones said his client had not wasted the court’s time and pleaded guilty at the first opportunity, and he accepted responsibility for his actions. He then beseeched the court to impose a fine and not a custodial sentence on his client.

In response, Magistrate Benjamin said the offence is serious. She, however, accepted his apology and his early guilty plea and, therefore, imposed the fine.

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8 Comments

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  1. Kingfish says:

    It is a shame to fine this man 1000$,he an others are doing the same thing our forefathers did many years ago by going in “Through The Window” to the USVI to seek employment in order to take care of their families. I agree we cannot have people running into the VI without the proper documents at the same time we must consider where they came from and the heavy burden of the fines being imposed.

    A small fine and deportation should be sufficient.

    Like 6
    Dislike 6
  2. Electrician says:

    The Territory probably just lost a qualified electrician that is urgently needed in the Territory. Instead of fining him and shipping him off, give him a work permit and let him pay taxes. You all so stupid. You jump on Trump and the BVI is worse.

    Like 10
    Dislike 9
    • Ausar says:

      “Electrician”,you may have a point!

      Skilled migrants, regardless of status upon entry, should be allowed to become lawful citizens, eh?

      Maybe, but unless there is legislation for such control mechanisms,these types of situations must be handled carefully.

  3. Nelson says:

    Were the other two responsible for bringing him in? What did the investigation show? If they didn’t clear customs then they should be fined as well. Right?

    Like 3
    Dislike 1
  4. Charnele says:

    I’m sure if it was a Caribbean national you would not be making such nice comments.

    Blacks really don’t like blacks.

  5. Anonymous says:

    Them people are mules ,all they do is carry weight nothing legal come from them real talk, otherwise he would have come through the legal way.

  6. Real talk says:

    Them people are mules ,all they do is carry weight nothing legal come from them real talk, otherwise he would have come through the legal way.

  7. LORENA says:

    DETRÁS DE ESTO HAY DROGA, PROSTITUCIÓN, LAVADO DE DINERO, SI EL VENEZOLANO QUERÍA BUSCAR UNA MEJOR CALIDAD DE VIDA LO HACE DE LA MANERA CORRECTA. UN ELECTRICISTA CUALIFICADO NO ACTÚA DE ESA MANERA

    Like 2
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