A 28-year-old security officer was yesterday sentenced to two years in prison after he admitted to charges of unlawful possession of a gun and ammunition.
Linden Bourne was sentenced to a total of six years in prison on three charges. The first charge, which was read by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in a Georgetown court, alleged that on October 17th, at Princes Street, Georgetown, he had a .380 pistol in his possession without having a firearm licence in force at that time.
The other two charges allege that on October 17th, at Princes Street, Bourne had four rounds of 9 mm ammunition in his possession without having a firearm licence in force at that time and on the same date and at the same location, he had two rounds of .380 ammunition in his possession without having a firearm licence in force at that time.
Bourne pleaded guilty to all three charges. He then proceeded to say that he found the firearm in North Ruimveldt. “I had no criminal intention and I have never been involved in any criminal activities,” Bourne told the magistrate.
Bourne further said that he had been honest and cooperated with the police when he was arrested.
According to Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers, on the day in question, Bourne and three other persons were the occupants of a car, PVV 3123, which was being observed by a police patrol and later stopped. Bourne immediately exited the car with a pouch in his hands. The police conducted a search of the pouch and found the four 9 mm rounds of ammunition. A further search was conducted in the car in the presence of the three defendants and the firearm was found under a food box, which was on the back seat. Two matching rounds of ammunition were then found in the firearm.
When Bourne was asked to produce a firearm licence, he told the ranks that he did not have any. When questioned by the police about the firearm, he told them that he found the items on an alleyway in North Ruimveldt. Bourne was subsequently arrested.
Bourne was sentenced to two years in jail for each charge and fined a total of $150,000. The sentences are expected to run concurrently and as a result he will only serve two years in jail.
