British citizen deported from Zimbabwe

A BRITISH citizen who had been staying in the country illegally for almost 10 months was yesterday convicted and fined $50 before being deported.

The suspect, Allister Irvin Cato (73), pleaded guilty to the charge and was slapped with a fine and an alternative 30 days' imprisonment by provincial magistrate Lazini Ncube.

In mitigation, Cato told the court that he committed the offence because the 30-day period he had been allowed in the country upon entry to visit his family was inadequate.

He further told the court he was married to a Zimbabwean woman and they had four children together.

However, Ncube ruled that Cato should have applied for more days rather than play hide-and-seek with Immigration authorities.

It was the State's case that on May 6 this year, Cato intended to exit Zimbabwe on his way to Britain through Harare International Airport aboard Emirates Airways when he presented his passport to an immigration official, who then discovered that he had overstayed.

The court heard, Cato had entered the country on May 9 last year upon which he was awarded a visitor's permit that expired on June 9 last year.

It was the State's case that upon expiry, Cato did not extend his term of stay, but remained in the country, illegally for 10 months, leading to his arrest.

Francisca Mukumbiri appeared for the State.