yesterday at Magistrates' Court.

Maria Carmen Costa, 55, admitted working as a cleaner without permission at the Stepping Stones Nursery in Middle Road, Devonshire, and at the home of its owner, David Goodwin.

Crown counsel Cindy Clarke told the court that Costa returned to the Island from Canada in 1997 to help her daughter, who had fallen ill and was unable to work.

Costa was previously married to a Bermudian and has two Bermudian children.

Defence lawyer Mark Pettingill said Costa was given permission to come to the Island and seek employment in 1997, but this expired on September 5, 1999.

He said although Costa was a qualified nurse, she obtained a job cleaning the Stepping Stones Nursery.

He said Costa was given permission to work, but did not then get written permission from the Department of Immigration for the specific job she had obtained.

When her permission expired in September, she wrote to the department to have it renewed, but received no reply, so she continued working, he said.

"Because she didn't have specific conditions, she found herself in this position,'' said Mr. Pettingill.

Ms Clarke said Costa was "purporting to be a Bermudian and the holder of a British passport''. Costa then produced her British passport in court.

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner said: "She used to belong to Bermuda and she's still got that passport.'' He showed leniency toward Costa, fining her $300 rather than the normal $1,000 because of the circumstances.

Costa's fate remains unclear, however, as Mr. Warner said she would have to sort the situation out with Immigration.

Immigration officials yesterday did not return calls to The Royal Gazette about what would happen next. Mr. Goodwin did not return a message left yesterday afternoon.

IMMIGRATION IMM