Williamsburg Village resident Ganesh Baldeo who allegedly conspired with persons to forge the date on a Guyana Police Force Immigration entry stamp in his Republic of Guyana passport, was committed to stand trial at the Berbice Assizes at the next sitting. Following a preliminary inquiry, Magistrate Adela Nagamootoo ruled that a prima facie case was made out against the defendant at the New Amsterdam Court on Tuesday.
Police Inspector Jairam Ramlakhan, prosecuting, led several witnesses who testified that on February 19 the defendant was an outgoing passenger on Caribbean Airlines which was bound for Trinidad and Tobago.
Immigration Officer Dameon Bynoe on checking the travel document, Number R 0012732, observed that the last entry stamp date was written over to read April 25, 2008. The border crossing system was then checked and it was discovered that the accused had instead entered Guyana on January 25, 2011.
After Baldeo was arrested, he reportedly told ranks that he gave someone US$150 to change the date on the passport.
The defendant had initially appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court before acting Chief Magistrate Priya Beharry who had placed him on $100,000 bail before transferring the case to the New Amsterdam Court.
