Two Chinese nationals who presented fake Canadian visas to a Caribbean Airlines customer service representative were fined $100,000 yesterday by a city court.
The engaged couple, Yang Fengqin, 31 and Yao Liwei, 37, by way of translator, both pleaded guilty to the crime, which occurred on September 10th, at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri.
It was alleged that on that day, with intent to defraud, they uttered to Lavar McPhoy, a customer service agent at Caribbean Airlines, People’s Republic of China passports in favour of themselves, with forged Canadian visas knowing same to be false.
According to the prosecution, and in line with what was presented by the defendants’ attorney, Paul Fung-A-Fat, the couple, who are traders, said they had paid US$2,000 for the visas. The two travelled to Guyana on September 4th, and according to police facts, had entered the country legally from Suriname.
Fung-A-Fat requested that the court grant a non-custodial penalty to his clients, who he stated had a valid ticket to leave the country. Meanwhile, Fengqin had begun crying on the stand, and when asked if she had anything to say, stated “I want to go home.”
Fengqin and Liwei were both fined $100,000 or in default, four weeks in prison.
