Belmopan couple charged for helping Brazilian nationals enter into the country illegally

Published by BBNTEAM at May 14, 2023

Tags

Posted: Sunday, May 14, 2023. 5:19 pm CST.

By Breaking Belize News Staff: A couple from Belmopan has been charged in connection with assisting 15 Brazilian nationals, 10 adults and five minors, enter the country illegally.

The Belizeans, 33-year-old, Kirk Andrew Hower, and his common-law wife, 34-year-old, Gracielita Mendez, were arraigned in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court and charged jointly with aiding and facilitating in the commission of an offense.

Their attorney John Nembhard submitted that the couple are law-abiding citizens who made an error in their judgment and are sorry for their actions. He asked the court to impose a fine and not to send them to jail given this was their first such conviction.

They were each fined $1,000 plus $5.00 cost of court which they were given until August 31, 2023, to pay or they will spend six months in prison for defaulting.

Roaring Creek police found the Brazilian nationals in vehicles driven by the couple, with Hower driving a taxi and Mendez driving a private SUV.

The Brazilians were detained, arraigned, and had a removal order granted against them. They are to be deported back to their home country at the earliest convenience of authorities.

Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Belize ~ We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages. Your content is delivered instantly to thousands of users in Belize and abroad! Contact us at mаrkеtіng@brеаkіngbеlіzеnеwѕ.соm or call us at 501-612-0315.