Bar owner fined over $7,000 for employees without work permits

By BBN Staff: A local bar owner has been fined over $7,000 for immigration offenses, after employing waitresses at his bar who were not in possession of valid work permits.

Thirty-three-year-old Anibal Lemus appeared in court on Friday where he was charged with five counts of employing a person not in possession of an employment permit.

Lemus pleaded guilty but explained that the five female immigrants were hired by his mother and that he only took over the business three months ago.

The Magistrate told Lemus that three months was enough time to get the women regularized, but given it was his first offense he was fined $1,500 per employee and $25 cost of court, for a total of $7,525.

The Immigration Department did not request any action against the women in the case, noting that they have children in Belize and that if they qualify, they will obtain their legal status to remain in the country.

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