Soldier held with illegal gun

A JAMAICA Defence Force soldier was arrested yesterday after he was allegedly held with an illegal firearm and several rounds of ammunition.

The Jamaica Constabulary Force’s Corporate Communications Unit (CCU) has confirmed the incident, which reportedly occurred in Spanish Town, St Catherine.

The soldier’s identity has not been released.

Police sources say the army has been notified of the incident.

It comes days after a police corporal and a teenage boy were allegedly held with two illegal firearms, including an AK47 rifle, and nearly 50 rounds of ammunition in Newlands, St Catherine.

The corporal’s attorney, Peter Champagnie, told The Gleaner that his client was interviewed by investigators yesterday and the file will be sent to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for a ruling.

CCU reports that a police team was on patrol in Crescent district yesterday when they saw a dispute and stopped to intervene.

Members of the police team were exiting their service vehicle when “the firearm was seen in the waistband of the suspect”.

CCU said subsequent checks revealed that the firearm was illegal.

Law-enforcement sources say the soldier told investigators he found the 9mm pistol in Linstead, St Catherine, nearly three years ago.