A fine may no longer be on the cards for a Dutch national on gun and ammunition charges.
When Harold Vernon Cristobal Sint Jago returned to the No. 5 Supreme Court on Friday, it was revealed that he had several convictions in his homeland, including murder and possession of a firearm.
Jago, of Klepperdans, Holland, is charged with having in his possession a 9mm Luger pistol and 13 rounds of ammunition on June 22, 2021.
The matter had been adjourned on Wednesday to allow for an interpreter to assist Jago, and one was in attendance when the matter came up on Friday.
A probation report disclosed that Jago had five previous convictions. Among them was a murder charge in 1999 for which he was sentenced to 20 years in prison. He also had a firearm conviction in 1994.
Jago, who is represented by Queen’s Counsel Michael Lashley in association with Ken Mason Jr and Sade Harris, had been angling for a fine on his previous court appearance.
However, on hearing the convicted man’s record, Justice Pamela Beckles told the interpreter to advise Jago that if he was pleading guilty in anticipation of a fine he should reconsider.
“Having had these antecedents read in, if he is not guilty he should enter a not guilty plea and not plead guilty believing that he is going to accept a fine because he may very well not get a fine but may get a custodial sentence, and a lengthy one at that,” the judge said.
After the message was translated to Jago, Lashley indicated to the court that he would need an adjournment to speak to his client in light of the information presented to the court.
As a result, Justice Beckles adjourned the matter until January 12, 2022.
