Thirty-seven year old Haitian auto mechanic Sanon Vertus, who arrived in Belize yesterday with a fake visa, became an inmate of Belize Central Prison today when he appeared before Magistrate Clive Lino and pled guilty to a charge of attempting to use a visa permit which was not issued by lawful authority. Vertus was ordered to pay a fine of one thousand dollars forthwith, in default six months imprisonment. He was unable to pay, so he was taken to prison. It was immigration officer Eldon August who detected that the visa was false when Vertus arrived at Phillip Goldson International he checked Vertus Haitian passport. August handed over Vertus to immigration officer Gusman who checked with the Belmopan office and verified that the visa was not genuine and as a result, Vertus was charged. The false visa for which Vertus said he paid 150 US dollars, was issued on December11, 2013 and it was to expire on March 11, 2014. He said he did not go to the embassy to get the visa and someone brought it for him. While he was in court Vertus broke down in tears at the prospect of being deported to Haiti. He said that he was going to make much more money plying his trade in Belize and asked Magistrate Lino not to send him back home. But there was nothing Magistrate Lino could do because the Immigration Department will apply for a removal order for him to be deported to Haiti either after he has paid the fine or served the time.
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