Belgian national opt to pay fine instead of imprisonment

Criminal-JusticeGeorgetown: A Belgian national, today appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court where he faced an illegal entry charge.

The Magistrate offered Acrnoudt two options: three months imprisonment or $30,000 fine. The accused opted to pay the fine.

The accused, David Acrnoudt  pleaded guilty to the charge which alleged that on November 2, at Lethem, Rupununi, he entered Guyana by crossing a land frontier and failed to present himself to an Immigration Officer.

Acrnoudt stated that he is a Lifeguard who had to attend a conference in Brazil. He explained to the court that after attending the said forum, he decided to visit Guyana because he wanted to explore Georgetown, the capital city.