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Woman fined $1,500 for expired visa

By FARRAH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A JAMAICAN woman who was caught living in the country on an expired visa was ordered to pay $1,500 to avoid spending three months behind bars prior to her deportation back to her home country.

Sandralyn Williams appeared before Magistrate Samuel McKinney after she was found residing in New Providence on February 18, beyond the time granted to her by an immigration officer.

The court was told that day, immigration officers went to the residence where Williams was staying and asked the home’s owner if they could conduct a search. They then approached Williams and asked her to show proof of her status. The court was told that the accused then produced a Jamaican passport which revealed that she was given permission to stay in the country from October 2019 to January 2020. The prosecution said no further extensions were granted to the defendant.

During the arraignment, Williams pleaded guilty to one count of overstaying. Magistrate McKinney subsequently fined her $1,500 or three months on remand. He said once the fine was paid or sentence was completed, Williams would be handed over to the director of immigration for deportation.

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