Acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry yesterday sentenced a man to five years in jail after he admitted that he had in his possession ammunition without a licence and narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.
According to the facts of the case, on November 11, at New Hanover in the Demerara River, Narine ‘Paul’ Hansraj had two 12-gauge cartridge casings without being the holder of a firearm licence enforced at the time. He also had 1 kg, 196 grammes of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking in his possession. Hansraj was fined $50,000 and sentenced to two years imprisonment on the ammunition charge and three years imprisonment on the narcotics charge. The sentences are expected to run concurrently.
The Georgetown Magistrates’ Court heard that on the said day narcotics ranks were patrolling in the Demerara River when they received information that lead them to Hansraj’s home. A search was conducted in the home in his presence and a five-gallon bucket was discovered at the back of his home containing a quantity of leaves, stems and seeds which was suspected to be cannabis. The man was cautioned and taken to the police station where the narcotic was weighed in his presence, amounting to 1kg 196 grammes. The prosecution said the ammunition was also found in the home.
In handing down the sentence, the magistrate took into consideration the mitigating and the aggravating circumstances while citing the seriousness of the offence.
