Honduran construction worker here illegally glad for free flight home after being busted and unable to pay fine

Posted: Wednesday, September 27, 2023. 7:28 pm CST.

By Breaking Belize News Staff: A Honduran construction worker who was busted on Immigration offences was fined in court today and was unable to pay so instead he will spend 6 months in jail before being deported but is happy to be going home on a free flight nonetheless.

Walter Efren Pineda Martinez, 23, appeared in court unrepresented and pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to produce a visitor’s permit. A non-custodial sentence was imposed in the form of a fine of $1,000 plus $5 cost of court. Martinez, however, was unable to pay and was instead sent to prison for 6 months in default.

In mitigation, Martinez had nothing to say but was glad to be going back home. He is to be deported after serving his 6 month sentence.

He was busted by Immigration officials on September 26 while the Immigration Investigation Unit were conducting routine checks at a construction site located on Cynthia Therese Nunez Crescent. Authorities asked Martinez to produce a visitor’s permit, which he could not and he was arrested.

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