Man Gets 12 Months In Prison For Overstaying In Cayman For Almost 4 Years. Court Hears How Man Didn’t Have Money To Leave Cayman & Lived In His Car.
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By Alric Lindsay
42-year-old Cedrick Saldenha appeared in the Summary Court today to face charges for overstaying in the Cayman Islands from August 2021 to May 2025. Magistrate Gunn sentenced him to 12 months in prison.
Background
Crown Counsel from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions explained the background, saying that in March 2024, officers visited an address after receiving information about Saldenha. Upon arrival and checking his records, it was apparent that he had been overstaying since August 6, 2021.
Defence counsel explained his circumstances, saying that Saldenha arrived in the Cayman Islands in 2017 on a work permit.
Reportedly, after his employment was terminated in 2021, he was given some time to arrange his departure, which included raising sufficient funds to facilitate it.
Unfortunately, Saldenha was unable to raise the money due to financial constraints. The lack of funds also resulted in him becoming homeless and living in his car since then. Essentially, he overstayed not because he wanted to remain here, but because he couldn’t afford the expensive flight home.
Defence counsel added that Saldenha was aware that he would face a prison sentence today but asked the court to consider his otherwise good character, the timing of the plea, the reasons for his overstay, and the difficult living circumstances he has had for nearly four years.
Sentencing
After hearing from defence and DPP crown counsel, Magistrate Gunn sentenced Saldenha as follows:
| Description | Sentence |
| Starting point | 2 years imprisonment |
| Less personal mitigation ( living out of car, financial circumstances and good character) | (6 months) |
| Less early guilty plea | (1/3) |
| Total | 12 months |
Any time spent in custody is to be credited to the above sentence.
Saldenha has 7 days from today to appeal.
