Friday, 12 July 2013 05:02
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By Lakmal Sooriyagoda
The Britisher who had been charged with non-payment of a hotel bill in Colombo was yesterday ordered to be deported and fined Rs. 50,000 after pleading guilty for overstaying in the country without a valid visa.
The accused, Pat Allen John, was arrested by Colpetty Police while he was behaving in a suspicious manner near the Colpetty junction. When Police asked him to produce his passport or a valid document of identification, he had failed to do so.
It was reported that prior to his arrest, the Grand Oriental Hotel (GOH) Manager had in a complaint to the Fort Police alleged that the Birtisher in question had defaulted on a payment of Rs. 17,202 after using the hotel’s facilities. He had stayed in the hotel on 4 April 2013 and had reportedly left the following day without paying the bill. However, the suspect had failed to carry his travel documents including his passport with him. It was later revealed that the British High Commission had paid the hotel bill owed by the Britisher.
When the accused was produced before Colombo Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage, the Britisher pleaded guilty to the charges and thereby he was ordered to pay a fine of Rs. 50,000. The Magistrate directed the prison authorities that the accused be kept in the Mirihana detention camp until the deportation order is implemented.
