BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

A MAN was sentenced yesterday to serve five years in jail and three strokes of the cane after he pleaded guilty to possession of a homemade rifle.

The court document submitted by deputy public prosecutor Dk Siti Nurul Fairuz Pg Rosli stated that the defendant, Adinin Puasa, 37, was arrested on October 2, 2014, after enforcement agencies at the Customs and Immigration Quarantine Security, Jalan Ujong, Temburong, found an object resembling a firearm in the boot of the defendant’s car.

They also found bags of marbles under the driver’s seat.

Adinin admitted that the item was a homemade rifle which he had been using for hunting.

Furthermore, the defendant did not have a licence issued to him by a licencing officer to use the rifle.

In delivering the sentencing verdict yesterday, Chief Magistrate Muhammed Faisal PDJLD DSP Hj Kefli said the matter should not be taken lightly as similar makes of the rifle has been seen numerous times.

The court further acknowledged that the defendant is a former traffic policeman and may have gained access on how to construct the rifle or may have obtained it from other sources, as the maker may still be out in the public.

The defendant has been ordered to serve the jail sentence with effect from the date of first remand on April 4.

The Brunei Times