US Basketball player held for visa violation

  • 2008-10-24
  • TBT Staff in cooperation with BNS
RIGA - U.S. Basketball player Tyrone Brazelton, who played in Latvia for Ventspils, has been held at the border for working in the country without holding the proper permit.

Kristine Petersone, a representative of the State Border Guard, told the Baltic News Service that the 22-year old athlete has been presented an administrative offense protocol for working without permit in Latvia, and that he might face a fine of 100-500 lats (142-711 euros).

The management of the club, meanwhile, is facing administrative sanctions for hiring the U.S. citizen without the working permit.

Ralfs Pencis, chief manager of the Ventspils club, declined to give more comments on the case at first, saying it was necessary to wait for the outcome. Later the club informed that Brazelton receive a work permit on October 6, but the protocol has been drawn up for the time between September 23 and October 6.