Pregnant Haitian woman accused of entering Jamaica illegally granted $1m bail

A pregnant Haitian woman accused of illegally entering Jamaica was granted $1 million bail on humanitarian grounds by the St Catherine Parish Court on Tuesday.

Sophonie Guersaint is charged with illegal entry.

She was taken into custody following a visit to a health centre in Greater Portmore on November 14, 2025, where authorities discovered she had entered the island unlawfully after attempts to communicate with her failed.

During a hearing before Judge Janelle Nelson-Gayle, Attorney-at-Law Dr Marcus Goffe made a rigorous bail application, noting that his client was at the court’s mercy.

It was also revealed that Guersaint is in an advanced stage of pregnancy and has had an asylum application pending for some time.

A Passport, Immigration, and Citizenship Agency official told the judge that more time was needed to process her asylum application.

Judge Nelson-Gayle confirmed that bail was granted on humanitarian grounds, on condition that Guersaint cohabit with her child’s father, Sharrodon Gordon, who acted as surety.

Goffe expressed satisfaction that Guersaint, who had been in custody for four months, could now experience the joys of parenthood outside of detention.

Gordon has also been charged with aiding and abetting.

-Rasbert Turner

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