Charges are to be laid against a 20-year-old Venezuelan national in connection with the fraudulent extension on his passport, after he appeared before the High Court challenging his detention yesterday (Christmas Day).
Alexandro Espinosa, a labourer and student at the night, appeared in the 10th Civil High Court before Justice James Aboud.
Espinosa was represented by attorneys Christian J Williams and Karunaa Bisramsingh. He was detained by Immigration Officer Fareed Abraham, who was served with a habeus corpus on Saturday evening, was not represented by an attorney before the court.
Aboud said under the law, Espinosa “had a right to seek redress for their imprisonment.”
“I felt the liberty of the subject was important for you and me, as well and the purpose..I need to hear the legality of the detention. The courts are closed until Thursday and Tuesday is Boxing day and the day after the registry is closed, that’s why I am here,” Aboud said.
In his defence, Abraham said on December 21 he was contacted by the San Fernando Court, after Espinosa was detained while attempting to leave the country via the San Fernando port to return to his homeland to spend time with his family for Christmas.
Espinosa was detained after his extension documents were found to be faulty. It was subsequently taken to the document laboratory in Piarco, where it was confirmed the extension to his passport was “in fact counterfeit.”
Williams praised the speedy work of the court and their dedication on the holiday.
Espinosa came into Trinidad via the Piarco International Airport in September and the alleged extension granted was until January 30, 2017. He was taken to the Immigration Detention Centre in Santa Rosa, where he is in custody. He is expected to be charged by the police and appear before a magistrate next week.