A Kitty man, allegedly caught trying to sneak two live cartridges hidden in sneakers to an inmate at the Georgetown Prison last December, was sentenced to two years in jail yesterday, after being found guilty of the crime.
City Magistrate Ann Mc Lennan found Kleon Benjamin, 30, of 41 Station Street, Kitty, guilty of the allegation that he, on December 23, at the Georgetown Prison, had in his possession two live rounds of ammunition without being the holder of a firearm licence at the time.
Her verdict came following a trial, during which Police Constable Williams, Superintendent Elliot and Prison Officers Graham and Jones, all offered evidence against the defendant, who maintained his innocence.
It was the prosecution’s case that Benjamin had gone to the prison to take clothing and footwear to a prisoner, Anthony Watson, when he was stopped for a search.
The search, according to the prosecution, revealed the live cartridges in the left side of the pair of Nike sneakers that was in the defendant’s possession. Benjamin was told of the offence, cautioned, arrested and charged.
However, Benjamin told the court that he had no knowledge of the hidden cartridges.
He explained that he was doing a favour for a friend, whom he had been with in the interior.
That friend, he added, asked him to deliver the items to Watson.
In addition to the sentence, Benjamin was also fined $15,000.
