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by pltm
(PLTM) - Authorities are currently questioning two Dominican Republic citizens as to how they obtained falsified British Virgin Islands visas.
Last Tuesday, Mady Rodriguez, 31, and Edward Ortiz, 41, were brought to court, slapped separately with charges of illegally entering the British Virgin Islands on October 24 at the Terrence B. Lettsome International Airport on Beef Island.
The allegations however did not substantiate the charge, as the duo had entered on a legal aircraft, at a legal port of entry, and presented themselves to Immigration authorities. It was their documents that were discovered to be forged.
Because the allegations did not substantiate the charges, the case was thrown out by Magistrate Shawn Innocent.
On Friday evening, they were once again brought to court—this time charged in relation to the falsified documents.
Before they could be read the charges, their Attorney, Leroy Jones argued for his clients to be released and sent back to their home country.
According to the Lawyer, Police and Immigration are questioning his clients about the forged documents—but they have no knowledge that the visas were falsified.
Information received states that the duo claimed that they paid an individual $5000 each to have their documentation processed, believing it to be a legal avenue. They also alleged that they sent their passports to the BVI to have the process undertaken.
The Attorney continued to press for their release, saying that they “could be questioned from now ‘til next year”, but would not be able to assist with tracking the distributor of the false visas as they were in the Dominican Republic while the false documents were conjured in the BVI.
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