“I can’t be kept in close space because I’m a diabetic and my pressure gon’ raise and I’ll die,” were the words of a man who pleaded guilty to having an illegal handgun with matching rounds in his possession when he appeared today in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
Sixty-four-year-old Joseph Alleyne of Lot 3 Bent Street, Georgetown appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, slapped with two charges.
The first charge stated that on July 2, 2019, at Mabaruma Police Station, he had in his possession 11 rounds of 9mm ammunition when he was not a licensed firearm holder. His second charged alleged that on the same day and at the same location, he had in his possession a 9mm pistol when he was not the holder of a firearm licence.
Alleyne pleaded guilty to both charges after they were read to him. Facts presented by Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield stated that on the day in question at around 13:00 hrs, a police officer arrested Alleyene on an allegation of simple larceny and escorted him to the Mabaruma Police Station. The prosecutor told the court that a search was conducted on Alleyne at the station and the gun and ammunition were discovered in a bag he was carrying.
When told of the offences, the prosecutor said that Alleyne confessed.
An emotional Alleyne told the court he was working on the Morning Star Vessel for the past six months and he found the gun on the vessel. He told the court he informed the owner of the boat about his findings and he was instructed to take the gun to him.
The man added that while taking the gun he was arrested by a police officer. He also told the court that he does not know the law and he was just following the instruction of his boss. The man’s lawyer Ronald Daniels, in a plea of mitigation for his client, told the court that Alleyne is a father of five and a certified boat captain for 40 years. He added that Alleyne had never been charged.
After listening to both sides, the magistrate imposed a two year suspended sentence on Alleyne for each of his two charges. He was also fined $100,000 on each charge. The sentences are to run concurrently.
