Alric Lindsay 
By Alric Lindsay
A man who forged a signature to secure a local work permit unlawfully was handed a suspended prison sentence today, September 21, 2026, in the Summary Court.
Cleve Anthony Dennis appeared with defence attorney Crister Brady, facing charges of forgery and making a false representation. The court heard that Dennis, whose prior work permit expired in June 2026, forged a signature on official documentation to deceive immigration authorities. A secondary charge of making a false representation was dismissed after Crown Counsel from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions elected to offer no evidence.
Magistrate Murray determined that Dennis exhibited “high culpability,” noting that his actions displayed some degree of planning, targeting a government apparatus. The court further observed that while the fraud caused no direct monetary loss, Dennis would have derived a benefit from the grant of the work permit.
Magistrate Murray noted that he did not accept the argument from defence counsel that Dennis did not appreciate the circumstances of his conduct, adding that “Conduct of this nature leads to a loss of confidence in the system and apparatus.”
Turning to the pre-sentencing report for Dennis, Magistrate Murray highlighted that Dennis applied for permanent residency, had a low risk of reoffending and expressed remorse.
In the circumstances, Magistrate Murray said that the starting point for the sentence was 18 months, which he reduced by one-third for the early guilty plea made by Dennis. This resulted in a sentence of 12 months’ imprisonment, which was suspended for two years.
