Brazilian Alexander Felix Plan was yesterday jailed for some 48 months and fined over $5.5 million after he pleaded guilty to several offences connected with him having landed a helicopter at the New River Triangle in February.
Plan was arrested at Aishalton in Region Nine by members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) on February 20. His arrest followed a GDF intelligence-led operation on February 19, in the New River Triangle in southern Guyana.
Plan’s helicopter, according to the GDF, was delivering food to a campsite where a shotgun, 10 cellphones, a generator, mining equipment, passports, ID cards and a bank card were found. The GDF said a quantity of equipment was confiscated and the camp along with a mining tunnel destroyed.
Plan was charged on February 27 with several offences and had originally pleaded not guilty. However, yesterday, the defendant, who was represented by Attorney Jevon Cox, changed his plea to guilty through an interpreter.
On the charge of operating a civil aircraft without an Airworthiness Certificate, contrary to Section 89(2) of the Civil Aviation Act, Plan was fined $1.5 million and sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment. On the charge of operating an aircraft without insurance, contrary to Section 137(4) of the Civil Aviation Act, he was fined $2.5 million with the alternative of 18 months’ imprisonment.
For the charge of disembarking in Guyana without the consent of an immigration officer, contrary to Section 34(1) (a) of the Immigration Act Chapter 14:02, Plan was fined $30,000 and sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment. He was also charged with interference with an aircraft, contrary to Section 121 of the Civil Aviation Act, and was fined $1.5 million and jailed for 18 months.
The sentences are to run concurrently.
