Cuban dentist reprimanded on immigration and fraud charges

Eileen Aguila, the Cuban dentist who was charged in January with conspiracy to forge an immigration stamp, and uttering a forged document, had the matters discharged by a city magistrate yesterday.

Aguila, 29, first appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman on January 23, and was read a charge which stated that between September 12, 2016, and September 14, 2016, at Georgetown, with the intent to defraud, she conspired with a person or persons to forge Guyana Immigration Service arrival and departure stamps in a Republic of Cuba passport.

A second charge was read which stated that on January 18, at Moleson Creek, Berbice, with intent to defraud, she had uttered to Immigration Officer 21708 Yazir Sugrim, a Republic of Cuba passport with the forged stamps.

It is also alleged that Aguila, having being granted permission to stay in Guyana from July 15, 2016 to August 15, 2016, had overstayed the permitted period.

During her first court appearance, Aguila had pleaded guilty to all charges, but later explained that her guilt was as a result of her ignorance. She added that she was not aware that the stamps were false until she went to apply for a job.

As a result, the Magistrate had entered a not guilty plea to the conspiracy to forge an immigration stamp and the uttering of a forged document charges.

She was fined $50,000 for overstaying, and had been granted $300,000 bail on the other charges.

When the matter was recalled yesterday, Aguila changed her plea to guilty to the two offences.

Subsequent to her plea, and taking into consideration the fact that she had shown remorse, Magistrate Latchman reprimanded and discharged the accused.