A city magistrate yesterday imposed a two-year suspended sentence on a 31-year-old Venezuelan, who was also fined and ordered deported after admitting to illegally having two 9 mm spent shells in his possession.
Ivan Marquez pleaded guilty to the charge, which was read to him by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court One.
The charge stated that on July 6th, 2019, at Blackwater Landing, North West District, Marquez had two 9 mm spent shells in his possession without being the holder of a firearm licence.
Marquez, who is a telephone technician, told the court, via a translator, that he came to look for a better life in Guyana and uses the shells to make jewellery.
According to Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield, on the day in question, police ranks went to the Blackwater Landing and came into contact with Marquez, who they searched. While they found nothing on him, a search of a haversack which he had at the time uncovered the two shells.
In addition, the prosecutor told the court that Marquez failed to present himself at an immigration office before entering Guyana.
The Chief Magistrate subsequently handed down the two-year suspended sentence and ordered that Marquez be sent to the nearest port of exit. In addition, she also ordered that he pay a fine of $50,000.
