Skipped Court — And The Island: Arrest Warrant Issued In Work-Permit Case

By Alric Lindsay

Dolores Catalan Vernon appeared on the list of Summary Court cases today, July 14, 2026. She faced allegations of working outside the terms & conditions of a work permit, providing immigration services without authorisation and illegal payment of work permit fees.  However, the court learned that she not only skipped court, but also left the Cayman Islands before today’s hearing.

For the first charge, it was alleged that, on or before December 13, 2024, and January 10, 2025, she worked outside the terms and limitations of her permit, in that she received funds for gain or reward to facilitate a work permit application for Ms Ma Cristina Lumagbas Takemoto.

The second allegation was that, for the same dates, Vernon allegedly provided immigration services without being authorised, in that she received funds and attempted to act as an agent to facilitate a work permit application for Ms Ma Cristina Lumagbas Takemoto.

The third allegation was that, for the same dates, Vernon illegally received funds to facilitate a work permit for Ms Ma Cristina Lumagbas Takemoto, which included the payment of her own work permit fees.

After it was apparent that Vernon was absent from court, Kenneth Ferguson, Crown Counsel from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, shared that Vernon was granted bail with a cash bond of $2,000 to ensure her appearance at court.  However, the immigration travel records reflect that Vernon left the Cayman Islands before her court date and did not return.

In the circumstances, the Chief Magistrate forfeited the cash bond, made an order for the issue of a warrant for Vernon’s arrest, and put a stop order in place at the airport to detect Vernon’s re-entry to the Cayman Islands.