WESTERN BUREAU:

A female Haitian national who illegally entered Jamaica to escape the harsh realities in her homeland, following the 2010 earthquake, was remanded in custody by the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.

Eighteen-year-old Cherlie Donne wept openly after pleading guilty to illegal entry before Resident Magistrate Sheron Barnes.

She is slated to be brought back to court on February 11 for her fate to be decided.

Reports are that, sometime in November 2012, Donne made her way to Jamaica by boat to get away from difficult living conditions in her native Haiti, after that country was badly damaged by an earthquake on January 12, 2010.

She landed on Jamaican shores in Portland and subsequently made her way to St James.

Legitimate proof

Further allegations are that, sometime in January 2013, the Anchovy police in St James acted on information and conducted a raid of a house in the Montpelier area at the parish.

Donne was found at the house and taken to the Freeport Police Station in Montego Bay, and was subsequently arrested and charged.

On Tuesday, clerk of the court Errol Chattoo told RM Barnes that following Donne's arrest, an interview with the investigating officer revealed that the defendant had no legitimate proof of entry into the country.

"The investigating officer went to Freeport and interviewed the accused, and it was realised that she (Donne) was there since November 2012 and had no proof of landing," said Chattoo.

"She is also alleged to have told the officer that she pretty much fled Haiti since the earthquake, because she was finding it difficult to survive. To date, she has no documents at all," added Chattoo.

"I am going to set it for sentencing on February 11. By then, Immigration can see what can be done," replied RM Barnes, before ordering that Donne should be remanded in custody.

- Christopher Thomas