Five men who entered Guyana illegally were yesterday ordered to pay a fine or spend 12 months in prison when they appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.

Walter Elson, Christopher Tweh and his brother Tarlay Tweh, all of French Guiana, who were jointly charged with illegal entry into Guyana, pleaded guilty.

Alexander Camacha of Venezuela and Fernando Reis of Portugal, who were separately charged with a similar offence, both pleaded guilty.

They all admitted that on September 11, they entered Guyana illegally by sea at Springlands, Corentyne River without presenting themselves to an immigration officer.

The magistrate subsequently ordered that the men pay a fine of $30,000 each or spend 12 months in prison.