Green Hill man fined $700 for illegal ammo possession

“Trouble mek monkey eat pepper.”

Senior Prosecutor Adolphus Delplesche hit defendant Akeemo George with this local saying after the defendant declared that he kept in his possession, illegal bullets he found in a wallet near CK Greaves supermarket.

George, a 23-year-old from Green Hill, was found with two .22 bullets at around 11:25 a.m. on March 18, when he was trying to get past the gate at the Grenadines Wharf.

The arresting officer gave evidence during trial that the illegal cargo was found in a small front pocket of George’s jeans, after he was taken to the security booth to be searched. Even at the point that he was arrested, the defendant’s story was that he had found the bullets in a wallet near the roadside by CK Greaves supermarket.

A ballistics expert confirmed that the bullets were live and that they could only be fired from a .22 rifle.

George gave his evidence by introducing himself and saying that he was the father of two baby girls. He also said that he worked on Union Island as a construction mason.

On that day, George recalled that he was walking near to CK Greaves supermarket and he saw the wallet, felt something tough in it, and he thought there was money inside of it. He then saw the two bullets.

“I don’t deal with these things I’m a hard working man,” the defendant kept repeating, and he asked to be fined.

Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne-Matthias told him that he basically admitted to the offence.

For sentencing, she considered that he had no previous convictions related to firearm offences, and she commented that the incident was unfortunate.

“When you felt and you saw it, you didn’t put it back down, you kept walking with it right into trouble,” she told him.

A fine of $700 was imposed, to be paid by the end of the month, May 31, when George said that he would get paid. If he fails to pay this sum, he will face four months in prison.

The ammunition was confiscated by the court.