It could have been handled differently.
That’s the opinion of Queen’s Counsel Michael Lashley, when his four clients – three Colombians and a Guyanese – faced the District “C” St Matthias Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
And he has indicated he will be suing the Immigration Department.
“We will now take the matter further. We will be filing a civil suit,” he said.
Colombians Leidy Yurani Rodas Lemos, 31, of Claviez; Johanna Martinez Palacious, 19, of Calle 4A, No. 52 – 59, and Carolina Estupinan, 31, of Bucaramanga, had just pleaded guilty to assaulting Immigration Officer Carlisle Murray on November 13.
Handisa Amanda Adams, 23, of Better Hope, East Demerara, Guyana, had initially denied the same charge but later changed her plea to guilty.
Chief Magistrate Christopher Birch convicted, reprimanded and discharged the quartet and handed them over to the Immigration Department for their “onward voyage”.
The four were then hustled to the Grantley Adams International Airport so they could be placed on an afternoon flight.
A fourth Colombian, who was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, has been reportedly released.
Estupinan arrived on May 24, 2017, and was given three months as a visitor; Lemos came in on July 17, 2018, and was granted 15 days’ stay while Palacious arrived that same day and was given three months. None of the Colombians regularised their status when their time expired.
Adams came in on August 31, 2018, and was granted six months’ stay but had her time revoked on November 12. (HLE)
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