The charge against Nazir Khan, nabbed while attempting to smuggle 22 Twa Twa birds hidden in hair curlers on to a flight to Canada, was yesterday struck out.
Khan, who was due to be sentenced yesterday, was told by a city magistrate yesterday that the section of the law under which he was charged does not include the Twa Twa species of bird. As a result, he was freed.
On Monday he was admitted to $75,000 bail pending sentencing after he admitted that he was attempting to export 22 birds without obtaining a certificate of permission for their exportation on June 14 at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri.
Khan was an outgoing passenger on Caribbean Airlines flight BW 606, which was destined for Toronto, Canada when the find was unearthed.
The court heard that the defendant’s carry-on luggage was passing through the security screening when it was observed that the birds were concealed in hair curlers.
Khan, who claimed that the birds were for his personal amusement, had told the court that he was not aware he needed a “pass” to export the birds.
