Two brothers of Indian nationality entered Belize via the banks of the Mopan River without passports and as a result, they were each fined $1,000 when they appeared today before Magistrate Dale Cayetano. The duo, 30-year-old, Kuldeep Singh and 24-year-old, Manjindes Singh pled guilty to a charge of illegal entry and were ordered to pay the fine forthwith. In default of payment they will serve 6 months at the Belize Central Prison. Magistrate Cayetano informed them that a removal order will be made out for them to be deported to India either after they have paid the fine or served the time. In an effort to defend themselves, the two men told the magistrate that they came to Belize because their lives were in danger in India and that they were members of a political party and had left that party and joined another because of their religion and were subsequently attacked by members of their former party who threatened to kill them. The immigrants were busted on January 11 when police stopped a passenger bus on which they were travelling from Benque and heading to Orange Walk. They said they came from Nicaragua and traveled by bus to Guatemala.
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