March 7, 2016 By Hawa Amara
Pakistani, Zulfiqar Alie Bhatti, pleaded guilty to entering Sierra Leone with a fake visa last Friday.
As a result, Magistrate Dr. Abubakarr Binneh-Kamara of the Freetown Magistrates’ Court No.1 is set to sentence him. He hinted that he may sentenced the young man to six months imprisonment or deport him back to his country.
The accused was arraigned on two counts of entering Sierra Leone without a valid traveling document, contrary to section 19(2)(f)(1)((a) of the Non-Citizens Registration, Immigration and Expulsion Act, using a forged visa, contrary to section 36(1) of Act No.14 of the same Act.
Defence counsel Ishmael Philip Mammie apologised on behalf of the accused for entering the country without a valid document and pleaded with the magistrate to temper justice with mercy, adding that his client had learnt his lesson.
On his part, Magistrate Dr. Binneh-Kamara stated that the Non-Citizens Registration, Immigration and Expulsion Act of 1956 states that a person entering a country without a valid travel document shall be liable on conviction to a term not exceeding six months or be deported to his country of origin.
Magistrate Binneh-Kamara adjourned the matter to today (7 Monday) for sentencing.