On Wednesday, 13th April, 2023, one (1) Bahamian citizen and fifty-eight (58) foreign nationals werearraigned before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt in court #9 and Magistrate Shaka Serville in court #4 respectively, for various immigration offenses.
Yves Simplice a Bahamian citizen pled guilty and was convicted on seven (7) counts of Employmentof Prohibited Persons and was fined $1,000.00 on each count or, in default of payment, serve ninemonths at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDOCS). One (1) Dominican nationalpled guilty to the charge of Illegal Embarkation and was fined $300.00 or, in default of payment,serve one month at (BDOCS).
On the charge of Overstaying, four (4) Chinese nationals pled guilty and were convicted and fined$500.00 or, in default of payment, serve one month at (BDOCS). One (1) Colombian national pledguilty and was convicted and fined $750.00 or, in default of payment, serve one month at (BDOCS),he was also charged with Illegal Embarkation and fined $300.00 or, in default of payment, serve onemonth at (BDOCS). Four (4) Haitian nationals pled guilty and were convicted and fined $3,000.00or, in default of payment, serve one year at (BDOCS), $2,000.00 or, in default of payment, serve oneyear at (BDOCS), $1,000.00 or, in default of payment, serve six months at (BDOCS) and $500.00or, in default of payment, serve two months at (BDOCS), respectively; they were also charged withEngaging in gainful occupation and fined $500.00 or, in default of payment, serve one month at(BDOCS).
On the charge of Illegal Landing, six (6) Cuban nationals were convicted and fined $300.00 or, indefault of payment, serve one month at (BDOCS). Forty-one (41) Haitian nationals were fined$300.00 or, in default of payment, serve one month at (BDOCS), one (1) Haitian national received aconditional discharged. Eight (8) of the Haitian nationals also pled guilty to the charge of Attemptingto Knowingly Mislead an Immigration Officer and were convicted and fined $1,000.00 or, in defaultof payment, serve two months at (BDOCS). Three (3) of the Haitian nationals also pled guilty to thecharge of Engaging in Gainful Occupation without a valid Permit and were convicted and fined$500.00 or, in default of payment, serve one month at (BDOCS).
Upon payment of all fines and completion of sentences, all migrants were ordered to be turned over tothe Department of Immigration.
The public is reminded that the Department is committed to executing our mandate to ensurecompliance with Statue Laws of our country.
For more information, call the Public Relations Unit at 1-242-322-7530, visit our website atwww.immigration.gov.bs, or call our Investigation hotlines (anonymously) at 1-242-604-0249, 1-242-604-0171-2 or 1-242-604-0196.
On Wednesday, 13th April, 2023, one (1) Bahamian citizen and fifty-eight (58) foreign nationals were
arraigned before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt in court #9 and Magistrate Shaka Serville in
court #4 respectively, for various immigration offenses.
Yves Simplice a Bahamian citizen pled guilty and was convicted on seven (7) counts of Employment
of Prohibited Persons and was fined $1,000.00 on each count or, in default of payment, serve nine
months at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDOCS). One (1) Dominican national
pled guilty to the charge of Illegal Embarkation and was fined $300.00 or, in default of payment,
serve one month at (BDOCS).
On the charge of Overstaying, four (4) Chinese nationals pled guilty and were convicted and fined
$500.00 or, in default of payment, serve one month at (BDOCS). One (1) Colombian national pled
guilty and was convicted and fined $750.00 or, in default of payment, serve one month at (BDOCS),
he was also charged with Illegal Embarkation and fined $300.00 or, in default of payment, serve one
month at (BDOCS). Four (4) Haitian nationals pled guilty and were convicted and fined $3,000.00
or, in default of payment, serve one year at (BDOCS), $2,000.00 or, in default of payment, serve one
year at (BDOCS), $1,000.00 or, in default of payment, serve six months at (BDOCS) and $500.00
or, in default of payment, serve two months at (BDOCS), respectively; they were also charged with
Engaging in gainful occupation and fined $500.00 or, in default of payment, serve one month at
(BDOCS).
On the charge of Illegal Landing, six (6) Cuban nationals were convicted and fined $300.00 or, in
default of payment, serve one month at (BDOCS). Forty-one (41) Haitian nationals were fined
$300.00 or, in default of payment, serve one month at (BDOCS), one (1) Haitian national received a
conditional discharged. Eight (8) of the Haitian nationals also pled guilty to the charge of Attempting
to Knowingly Mislead an Immigration Officer and were convicted and fined $1,000.00 or, in default
of payment, serve two months at (BDOCS). Three (3) of the Haitian nationals also pled guilty to the
charge of Engaging in Gainful Occupation without a valid Permit and were convicted and fined
$500.00 or, in default of payment, serve one month at (BDOCS).
Upon payment of all fines and completion of sentences, all migrants were ordered to be turned over to
the Department of Immigration.
The public is reminded that the Department is committed to executing our mandate to ensure
compliance with Statue Laws of our country.
For more information, call the Public Relations Unit at 1-242-322-7530, visit our website at
www.immigration.gov.bs, or call our Investigation hotlines (anonymously) at 1-242-604-0249, 1-
242-604-0171-2 or 1-242-604-0196.
