Jail for Siparia man held with arms, ammo

A Siparia man who appeared before a Siparia magistrate yesterday, charged with a series of offences including possession of arms and ammunition, was sentenced to a total of six years in prison after pleading guilty to the charges.

According to reports, officers attached to the South Western Divisional Task Force, along with officers from the Siparia CID, executed a search warrant on Thursday at a home located on Quinam Road, Siparia. The officers found a spent 12 gauge cartridge along with parts for a homemade shotgun and tools used for manufacturing a firearm. Constable Joseph of the task force arrested the owner of the home, Joseph Guerra, and subsequently charged him with possession of a firearm, manufacturing a firearm, and possession of ammunition. When the accused appeared in the Siparia First Court before Magistrate Cardinas Ragoonanan, Guerra pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two years for each of the charges.

In another incident, Derrick Bridgewater of Lorensotte Trace, Rancho Quemado, appeared before Magistrate Cardinas Ragoonanan, charged with possession of cocaine and possession of marijuana. Reports state that Bridgewater was charged by Constable Noel of the South Western Divisional Task Force, after he was found with 63 grammes of marijuana and 2.4 grammes of cocaine in his pocket. Magistrate Cardinas ordered Bridgewater to pay $7,500 or face three years in prison for the charge of possession of marijuana and $2,500 or nine months for the charge of possession of cocaine. Constables Martin and Samuel, led by Cpl Hunt, conducted the exercises which resulted in the arrests of the men.