Honduran Man Jailed for Illegally Entering Belize

After one week in Belize, a Honduran national has been remanded to the Belize Central Prison on a charge of Illegal entry. He is thirty-one-year-old, Francisco Maldonado Hernandez, a Honduran national who was brought in by police on Saturday for allegedly entering Belize through the banks of the Mopan River in Benque Viejo del Carmen. He appeared in court on Monday, where he pleaded guilty to the offense and was imposed a non-custodial sentence of a fine of one thousand dollars, plus a court fine of five dollars. Hernandez was unable to meet the fine and was imposed a six-month prison sentence in default. The Belize Immigration Department has made an application for Hernandez to be removed from the country either upon paying his fine or after serving his prison term which was granted.