The US-bound passenger who attempted to smuggle 11 protected birds out of Guyana changed his plea from not guilty to guilty yesterday and was fined $70,000 by Acting Chief Magistrate Cecil Sullivan.

Ronald Persaud, 43, who gave his address as the USA and Lot 52 Peters Hall, East Bank Demerara was charged with exporting species requiring protection in Guyana. Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) officer Antonio Paul, 27, of Lot 82 LBI, East Coast Demerara who reportedly accepted $110,000 from Persaud as an inducement to help export the birds, did not change his plea of not guilty.

Besides the joint charge, Paul was charged with corrupt transaction by agent. They were each released on $50,000 bail when they appeared in court last week.

It is alleged that on January 23 at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, Persaud was exporting 11 Towa Towa birds without obtaining a permit or certificate from the management authority. It is also alleged that on the said day Paul aided and abetted Persaud to export the birds.

Paul reportedly also obtained the sum of US$500 ($100,000), along with $10,000 as a reward for not seizing the birds from Persaud and allowing him to take them into the restricted area of the airport.

Paul has to return to the Providence Magistrate’s Court on February 12.