CHIEF Magistrate Ann McLennan on Thursday, July 11, 2019, handed down a two-year suspended sentence onto a 31-year-old Venezuelan who pleaded guilty to a firearm-related charge.

Ivor Marquez was arraigned before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and was also fined $50,000 after throwing himself at the mercy of the court.

Marquez, who communicated to the court with the aid of an interpreter admitted that, on July 6, 2019, at the Black Water Landing, North West District, he had two 9MM spent shells in his possession, which are components or part of an ammunition, without being the holder of a firearm license.

The unrepresented man told the court that he came to Guyana for a better life because of the economic crisis back home and uses the spent shells to make jewellery.

According to the information presented in court by prosecutor Gordon Mansfield, on the day in question, ranks from the Mabaruma Police Station, intercepted Marquez at Black Water Landing.

The police ranks carried out a search on his person and spent shells were found in his haversack.

The Chief Magistrate imposed a two-year suspended sentence onto Marquez, along with a fine of $50,000 and told him that if he was placed before the court within the next 24 months he will be taken straight to jail to serve his time handed down
She also ordered that Marquez be taken to the nearest port of exit.