Trinidad and Tobago: 23-year-old imprisoned for 3 years for possessing firearm and ammunition

Trinidad and Tobago: A 23-year-old man was sentenced to three years of hard labour by a Master at the High Court for the offence of possessing a firearm and ammunition on Monday. It is to be noted that the man was also wanted in connection with three reports, which include housebreaking, larceny in Gasparillo and a report of a robbery with aggravation in Sangre Grande.

The accused has been identified as 23-year-old Brandon Thompson alias ‘Smalls’, resident of Cotton Hill Road 3, Bonne Aventure Village Mayo, Gasparillo.

As per the reports, the authorities of the Eastern Division Task Force conducted a crime suppression exercise on 28^th January 2024, resulting in Thompson’s arrest as the officials found Tanfoglio’s. 9-millimetre Pistol and six rounds of 9-millimetre ammunition. Subsequently, Thompson was charged by PC Mohammed of the EDTF on 4^th February and was pleaded guilty to the offences and was given the sentence on 5^th February 2024 by the Master of the High Court, Cheron Raphael.

Notably, Thompson was also the main suspect in the report filed on 31^st December, 2023, of a robbery with aggravation and possession of a firearm in the Sangre Grande district.

The investigation of the case was led by PC Wong of the Sangre Grande Criminal Investigations Department, where he charged the accused with the offences and pleaded guilty before Master at the High Court, Cheron Raphael. The accused has been remanded into custody and will appear before the court on 20^th February, 2024.

The officers discovered that the accused was also wanted in connection with three counts of housebreaking and larceny between July and December 2023, which allegedly occurred in the Southern Division. The authorities were conducting investigations into the firearm and ammunition possession when they found Thompson’s connection with such old cases.

Subsequently, PC Roopchand of the Gasparillo CID charged Thompson with the offences on 3rd February. Thompson is still in custody, and the next hearing will be held on 28th February 2024.