Three years jail for possession of illegal gun, ammo

A 34-year-old shopkeeper of Sophia Squatting area in Georgetown was on Tuesday sentenced to three years imprisonment for the possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

Jermaine Anthony appeared at the Diamond/Golden Grove Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Bess where he pleaded guilty to both charges.

Police Headquarters reported that Anthony was arrested on April 22 after a Police-led intelligence operation uncovered the .32 Taurus Pistol (serial number filed off) and 16 live .32 rounds of ammunition inside a minibus that Anthony was a passenger of.

Ranks from the Timehri Police Station intercepted the bus at Sarah Johanna, East Bank Demerara. A search was conducted on all the passengers but nothing illegal was found on their person.

Further checks were then conducted on the bus by a Lance Corporal who observed the firearm under a seat in the minibus.

Several persons were questioned as to whom the suspected firearm belonged, and two of the passengers – Anthony and a 24-year-old carpenter, were arrested.