Taxi driver nabbed with illegal gun, ammo remanded

A 39-year-old taxi driver was remanded to prison after he was allegedly caught with an illegal firearm and ammunition.
Dexter Thompson of East La Penitence, Georgetown, appeared before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly on Friday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
There, two charges were read to the accused.
The first charge alleged that on September 6 at Robb Street, Georgetown, he had a .38 revolver in his possession when he was not the holder of a firearm licence.
It was further alleged that on the same day at the said location, while not licensed to carry a firearm, he had three .38 live ammunition in his possession.
Thompson, who denied both charges, was remanded to prison.
The prosecutor’s facts revealed that at around 01:25h on the day in question, ranks on a Police patrol observed Thompson liming near a hotel and approached him.

Police ranks then searched his person and found the gun in the crotch of his pants. Questioned by the ranks if he was licensed to carry the firearm, the taxi driver responded in the negative, telling them that he bought the gun for his protection.
Meanwhile, last month, William Ramsey, a 38-year-old taxi driver of B Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown, who was nabbed by the Police with an illegal firearm and ammunition, was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment.
Unrepresented by legal counsel, he appeared before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts and pleaded guilty to the following offences: having a .38 revolver when he is not a licensed firearm holder; having five matching rounds of ammunition, and having spent shells.
He was arrested with the items on August 22 at Mandela Avenue in Georgetown.
Ramsey had told the court that he bought the firearm and ammunition while he was in the interior a few months ago. He claimed that he bought the gun for his protection because he was robbed while working. After considering Ramsey’s early guilty plea, Magistrate Daly sentenced him to two years in prison on each of the three charges, and ordered that the jail times run concurrently.
Reports are that Police ranks, acting on information received, went to Norton Street and Mandela Avenue, Georgetown, at about 06:30h on the day in question, and intercepted a white Toyota 212 motor car with registration number HB 9112, which was being driven by Ramsey.
The ranks searched the driver and discovered the revolver with the matching rounds on his person. Asked if he was the holder of a firearm licence, the driver responded in the negative, and as such was arrested.
According to the Police, after being arrested, the driver told the ranks that he had bought the firearm in the interior for his protection. As such, he was taken into custody at the East La Penitence Police Station and later prosecuted. (G1)