By Tashieka Mair, Star Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:

Two Colombians who allegedly obtained fraudulent immigration stamps in their passports and overstayed their time in the country, were on Friday remanded in custody when they appeared in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court.

Jesus Albeirro Carvajal and Alexis Bent Brown pleaded not guilty to charges of uttering forged documents. They however pleaded guilty to the charge of overstaying.

Through the assistance of an interpreter, Carvajal told RM Winsome Henry that he came to Jamaica for the first time to sell clothes. He said he did not know anyone who would be able to stamp his passport.

forged documents

Brown, who spoke patois fluently told the judge, "We nuh know nutten bout no stamp. A when we cum a di airport dem stamp it."

RM Henry ordered that the two be remanded and told the investigating officer to furnish the court with the relevant statements so a trial date can be set in relation to the charge of uttering forged documents.

The two are scheduled to return to court on December 1.

Allegations are that Carvajal was in a queue of passengers to board a flight from the Sangster International Airport to Kingston with connections to Curacao.

His passport was examined and it was discovered that an immigration stamp endorsed in the document was fraudulent. It also showed that he overstayed.

He told the immigration officer that his friend had a similar stamp in his passport. Carvajal was taken from the line and asked to point out his friend, who turned out to be Brown.

His house was searched as he did not have his passport at the airport, and his passport was examined. The document also indicated that he overstayed his time in the country and a fraudulent stamp.