A Journalist, Leroy Smith was on Friday afternoon arrested after an unlicensed 4.5mm air pistol was found in his motorcar during a stop and search exercise at Regent and Albert Streets, Georgetown.
Based on information received, at about 16:20h, motorcar bearing registration number PVV 4965 driven by Smith was stopped by Police ranks. At the time of the exercise, a teenager of Wismar Linden was in the car.
However, during the search, the Colt Defender 4.5mm air pistol was found between the front passenger seats in a compartment pocket. Smith
Journalist Leroy Smith
immediately claimed ownership and subsequently produced an approval letter signed by former
Commissioner Seelall Persaud dated January 17, 2017.
A senior Police rank when contacted told Guyana Times that the letter of approval was given to Smith to purchase the weapon. “It means that after he would have purchased the gun, he had to get it registered and then a licence will be issued… we are trying to ascertain whether or not it is the same gun that the approval was given to purchase is the one that Smith had in his possession,” the senior rank stated.
In addition, the senior Police rank added that air pistols are not a regular firearm
The gun that was found in Smith’s car
that can be kept in someone’s possession around the clock. “Those guns are for hunting purposes and once they are not used as was intended, they have to be locked away in a safe space until they are ready to be used again”.
As a result of the law, Smith was arrested and taken into custody at Brickdam Police Station while the firearm was lodged. He and the occupant of the car were later released.
The Police are continuing their investigations.
