Judge fines Bush Hall man for bullet, warns of prison risk

A

single bullet brought a Bush Hall man a fine – and a judge’s warning that now was the time to walk the correct path or face a prison sentence in the future.

Akeem Emmanuel Chung, of Accommodation Road, Bush Hall, St Michael appeared in the No. 5 Supreme Court and admitted to having a single 9mm round on March 6, 2023.

Justice Pamela Beckles told Chung: “I am not going to sit back and say that this is only just one round of ammunition. I always say you don’t dispel ammunition with a guttaperk. You see ammunition? Usually a gun is somewhere around. So I take any rounds of ammunition very serious. I also take into account that this accused man is known to the court and would have been given a chance in not being sent to prison because he was a first time offender. So Mr Chung, if were you, I would not want to see a picture of a round of ammunition or a firearm.

“Whatever is going on in your life, you need to turn and walk in the other direction because where you are headed no good can come of it and you will end up in prison eventually for a very long time if you do not turn your life around now.”

“Yes ma’am,” Chung replied.

Justice Beckles imposed a fine of $1 000, payable immediately, with six months’ imprisonment in default. The penalty followed a starting sentence of one year, reduced for his guilty plea and 90 days spent on remand.

Chung was represented by defence attorney Shadia Simpson.

Acting Senior State Counsel Maya Kellman, prosecuting, told the court that at about 1.15 p.m., police on joint mobile patrol with soldiers were travelling along Pasture Road, Bush Hall, when they saw a red vehicle driven by Chung. Acting on information, they blocked the vehicle. A female passenger was seated in the rear.

Officers indicated their intention to search the car, and Chung agreed. Both occupants were searched. The bullet was discovered in a blue bag on the back seat. The female, who identified the bag as hers, denied knowledge of the ammunition.

Both were taken to the police station. During an electronically recorded interview two days later, Chung admitted placing the round in his girlfriend’s bag without her knowledge.

“When she had gone to get the Mapps [chicken], I remember I had now get the car from the fella, so I see it in the cubby hole. I just didn’t want to leff it knocking ‘bout in the car,” he said.

He later added: “I tell myself it was hazard. When the police stop me and for dat same reason I wrap it up in tissue and put it in she bag.”

Asked why he did not admit to the offence earlier, he said he was “afraid of the police because I got a case going on and I honestly did not want to make it bad for my other case”.

 (JB)