DEON P GREEN, Star Writer

Two of three Haitians who appeared in the Morant Bay Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday pleaded guilty to illegal entry. They were each fined $8,000 or sentenced one month in prison after which they will be deported. The third pleaded not guilty and is booked to return to court on September 10.

The convicted Haitians are 19-year-old Linda Exime and 27-year old Edilene Ulysee, while 36-year-old Jean Jossie has been remanded in custody until he returns to court.

Holland Bay coastline

Jossie through an interpreter told the court that he was kidnapped and taken to the island.

They were brought before the court after they were spotted along the Holland Bay coastline on August 18, in the company of two Jamaicans.

The Star has since learnt that the five were seen near a hut in which they were believed to be living. The police also seized a boat in which the Haitians are believed to have landed in.

became suspicious

The group was interrogated by the Marine police before they were taken into custody by the Morant Bay police. It is further understood that the Morant Bay police have since intensified their investigations into the reasons behind their landing on the island. The police said persons became suspicious after the Haitians along with two Jamaicans seemed unfamiliar with their environs were behaving strangely.

With concerns over human trafficking and alleged gun-for-drug trade between Haitians and Jamaicans, the police are further probing the circumstances that led to the group's presence.