The Tribune

By KEILE CAMPELL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

A HAITIAN woman who wept repeatedly in court was fined $9,000 and ordered to be deported yesterday for trying to obtain a resident spouse permit by false pretences on the strength of a marriage she believed was legal but was not.

Edelande Saint-Lot, 32, was sentenced by Senior Magistrate Kendra Kelly on three counts: fraud by false pretences, attempted fraud by false pretences and attempting to obtain a resident spouse permit by false pretences.

Her co-accused and husband, Andy Saint-Lot, died last month, ending his part in the proceedings. The court heard Saint-Lot believed the two were legally married, although they were not.

She was fined $4,000 for fraud by false pretences, $2,500 for attempted fraud by false pretences and $2,500 for attempting to obtain a resident spouse permit by false pretences. She faces one year at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDOCS) if she does not pay, with time already spent on remand deducted.

The court also ordered her immediate deportation.

Saint-Lot repeatedly broke down in tears during the hearing and was consoled at various points. At times, she had to leave the courtroom to compose herself before proceedings continued.

Explaining her decision, Senior Magistrate Kelly said the court had to balance the defendant’s circumstances against the seriousness of the offences. She said she dealt with many fraud cases and took such offences seriously.

Saint-Lot originally faced four charges, but one was struck out over concerns that it duplicated another allegation dated five days later.

She has seven days to appeal.

Sergeant Vernon Pyfrom prosecuted.