Two days ago we told you that a clerk in an Indian store, Idra Vaswani was charged for working without a permit. He pleaded not guilty and was bailed for four thousand dollars.
His uncle Mukesh Makhwani, the owner of the store- was accused of employing Vaswani without a work permit. He too pleaded not guilty to the charge and was released on a bail of two thousand five hundred dollars.
But they weren't satisfied; in fact they say they are being railroaded. They came to our office yesterday and told Monica Bodden why:…
Mukesh Makhwani - Owner, The God Store
"I am the owner. He is living with me from last 3 weeks and i am taking care of him. He is an employee, he is not working with me, he just sits down and stay at my home. He is my relative. On Monday morning I left the store open and the burglar was close. When we deal with customers we open the burglar bars."
Idra Vaswani
"He open the shop and he is there just sitting down, I came in like 10 minutes. The immigration came to me and asks me for my work ID. I say that I am not working; I am just sitting down right here."
Monica Bodden
"Was the store close?"
Idra Vaswani
"Yes, one gate from the store was close. The immigration officer told me that I must pay the charges or I will go to court. I say ok I will not pay because I am not guilty."
Monica Bodden
"So you were just staying with your uncle. You were just inside your uncle's shop that was closed?"
Mukesh Makhwani - Owner, The God Store
"After I got a call that the immigration are coming to pick him up. I told them to wait. The close the store and they hold the keys; they pick him up, hold him and took him to court."
Today Vaswani told us that he has been working in Belize -at Extra House for 2 years - but was recently terminated on December 29. He showed us his work permit.
Idra Vaswani
"I work here in the last two years for Mr. Jack Charles, but he fired me."
Monica Bodden
"That's your work permi?"
Idra Vaswani
"I have the work permit right here."
Monica Bodden
"When were you fired?"
Idra Vaswani
"He fired me on the 29th of December."
Monica Bodden
"And you haven't been working since then? So you haven't been working for your uncle?"
Idra Vaswani
"I left my house to go look for a house for rent, my uncle told me that he will help me, I am not working with him because I have enough money to go to India. I just come here to eat. I am not working with him."
Both Idra Vaswani and his uncle Mukesh Makhwani say they are innocent.
Mukesh Makhwani - Owner, The God Store
"He is legal in this country. I don't understand why. He is not working; he could go anywhere he wants. The next day when I went for my key the immigration officer say that they are going to charge me for this because I put him in my store. I told them that he is not my worker, he is my family member. They want to charge for that. I am an innocent person; they have put my name in the news. I want to let everybody know that I am an innocent person. Only one person is working with me for the last 3 months. I have proof, if anybody has any questions they can come."
Vaswani plans to apply for another permit and to remain in Belize….
