A Venezuelan who had an unlicensed gun and ammunition in his possession was on Friday remanded to prison for sentencing today when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.
Jesus Alberto Newerpaé through his interpreter accepted that on July 26 at Essequibo he had in his possession one .45 automatic pistol and six matching rounds of .45 ammunition without licence.
Presenting the facts of the case, Police Corporal Simone Payne, prosecuting, said that Newerpaé was found with the items concealed in his crotch.
She said the find was made after the police had received certain information.
When asked by the court why the defendant had the unlicensed items in his possession, the interpreter, after consulting with Newerpaé reported that the man said he got the items from another Venezuelan who instructed him to sell them.
The interpreter said that Newerpaé informed her that he would have been paid after selling the items.
The presiding magistrate informed the defendant that the offence he had committed carries a minimum of two years imprisonment and a maximum of five years together with a fine of not less than $50,000 and not more than $100,000.
The court said that sentencing will be deferred to today for an opportunity to have a representative from the Venezuelan embassy present while the sentence is being handed down.
