the conditions of his work permit.

"A message must be sent out clear as a bell to the community that this type of flouting of the law will not be tolerated,'' Magistrate Edward King said as he handed down the sentence.

Earlier in the trial, Crown counsel Larry Mussenden told the court Immigration officers saw Craig Raymond Trembath twice handle and sell merchandise on June 17 last year.

But the 45-year-old's permit entitled him to work only as a management consultant for Apex Management Services.

Immigration officers first questioned Trembath at Marriott's Castle Harbour Resort after observing him selling an item to a customer.

Later the same day, officials again saw him conduct transactions with customers as he sold ceramic lighthouses during the Harbour Nights on Front Street.

"He was therefore alerted that his actions were being investigated with respect to his work permit,'' said Mr. King. "But they caught him again at Front Street again selling merchandise.'' And he said Trembath later submitted a letter to Immigration officials which acknowledged he acted in the capacity of a salesperson at the Castle Harbour and Harbour Nights.

"He is an educated man and certainly knew that he was not acting as a management consultant at the shop and Front Street,'' he continued.

And Mr. King said it did "not take a genius to establish'' Trembath was not working within his permit.

"He was engaged in the gainful occupation of a salesman thereby contravening the express permission granted by his work permit,'' he said.

Trembath's current permit is scheduled for review in April of this year, but defence lawyer Peter Woolgar said an appeal was imminent.

"Mr. Trembath maintains that he did not commit the offences charged and we will be immediately appealing this to the Supreme Court,'' he said.