Supreme Court Judge Leighton Pusey imposed a fine yesterday on an American man who was found in possession of a firearm in January this year.

Joshua Anderson, 23, of Texas, was fined $250,000 or nine months' imprisonment for illegal possession of firearm and $50,000 or six months' imprisonment for the ammunition.

He pleaded guilty last month to the charges but sentencing was put off until yesterday.

Anderson was offered bail but had to remain in custody because he did not have anyone to bail him.

The police saw Anderson walking in Duhaney Park in January. He had a bulge at his waist and when he was searched it was discovered he had a firearm with ammunition.

Defence lawyers Peter Champagnie and Carolyn Chuck, who represented Anderson, made an impassioned plea for a non-custodial sentence because of the circumstances of the case. The lawyers produced a receipt in court to prove that Anderson had purchased the firearm in the United States.

Anderson claimed he declared his firearm at immigration when he arrived in the island in January. He also told the court that he had a permit in the United States for the firearm.

- R.T.