Walter Maduro, a 31-year-old immigration officer, appeared in Magistrates’ Court Monday, charged with five counts of breach of trust and five counts of using his public office for gratification. He was not allowed to plead to the indictable charges.
Mr. Maduro, who was stationed at the Road Town ferry terminal, is accused of placing entry stamps into forged Venezuelan passports on June 5, 2010 and June 29, 2010. Roberto Mendez-Hurtado, alleged to be a “drug lord,” and Denisse del Sosa Ventura, alleged to be his accountant, were among those said to have received stamps bearing Mr. Maduro’s signature, Senior Crown Counsel Christilyn Benjamin said.
Mr. Maduro allegedly told police that “he believed he had made mistakes,” but that he was not involved in any drug trafficking, money laundering or facilitating illegal entry into the territory, Ms. Benjamin said.
He was offered $90,000 bail with one surety and ordered to surrender his travel documents and report to the Road Town Police Station three times a week.
See the Sept. 22, 2011 edition for full coverage.