South African jailed until he can find guard

Simon Putuka, a South African national, was apprehended at Arnos Vale on August 10, for entering the state without a passport. Putuka appeared before the Senior Magistrate Carl Joseph where he pleaded guilty to the offence.

Putuka, a driver/mechanic by profession, claimed he came to St. Vincent on August 4, and stayed a couple of days before proceeding to Tortola intransit through Antigua. {{more}}

He claimed to have fallen asleep at the Antigua airport while awaiting his onward flight and on arrival in Tortola, he discovered that his passport was missing.

He was arrested, jailed for one night then deported back to St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Putuka in his statement before the court said he did not have a return ticket as he had given it to a security guard here for safeguarding until he was ready to leave the state. He was now unable to find the security guard.

The senior magistrate ordered that he be remanded at Her Majesty’s Prisons until he could find the security guard with his return ticket, at which time he would then be deported to his homeland.