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Court shocked as seized firearm replaced with toy gun

Mar 30, 2017 News

–    Several arrested as OPR called in to probe  
Imagine the shock when a policeman was called to identify a firearm in the Georgetown Magistrate Court on Tuesday only to discover that the weapon he had carried out ballistic tests on in 2016 was replaced with a toy gun.
This was the embarrassing situation that played out in Court Two and caused the Magistrate to immediately adjourn the matter and called for an investigation to be launched.
Several ranks who would have had access to the weapon while it was lodged at the Brickdam Police Station have been arrested. Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum confirmed that the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) has launched an investigation.
On October 8, last, 32-year-old Carl Carter was arrested and subsequently charged after he was found with a .38 revolver and four matching rounds while he was not the holder of a firearm licence at Palm Court on Main Street, Georgetown.
The firearm was submitted to the Crime Laboratory and after examination, it was found to be a firearm by the expert, under the firearm Act, Chapter 16.05. One of the ranks who tested the weapon signed when he collected it from the Brickdam Police Station last year and signed when he returned it after tests were carried out.
However, when the rank was called to identify the weapon on Tuesday during a court proceeding, it was revealed that it was not the weapon he had tested.
In fact, it was discovered that the original weapon was replaced with a toy gun. This caused uproar in the court room. Later, a number of ranks who had access to the weapon were arrested.
Investigators are now trying to determine whether Carter had a hand in the disappearance of the original weapon in an attempt to hinder the course of justice.
This incident happened days after police corporal Shevon Marks arrested and charged for attempting to smuggle an AK-47 out of the Tactical Service Unit compound. Police during their investigation found out that the corporal was going to sell the weapon.
Investigators now have to find out whether ranks who have access to these seized weapons are abusing their power.

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