Man fined $10,000 for possession of ammunition

Adler Phillip walked out of the courtroom a smiling, relieved man after he was fined EC$10,000.00 in total for possession of ammunition.

The police on January 9, 2019 executed a search warrant at the home of Phillip and found an amount of ammunition spent shells and ammunition for which Phillip does not poses a firearm or ammunition license.

The police also arrested a Venezuelan and Jamaican (female) national but the charges against them were dropped  after Phillip pleaded guilty to 13 charges.

However, the prosecution encountered many hurdles in tendering much of the evidence before the court as defense counsel, Zena Dyer, objected relentlessly. In the end, Phillip was only convicted on three of the 13 charges.

In her mitigating plea, Dyer pleaded with the court not to impose a custodial sentence on her client who she said was a businessman, father and gainfully employed.

“He is sorry to have found himself in that position. We ask that you impose a fine…not tantamount to imprisonment,” Dyer told the court.

She continued, “He has assured me that he will walk the straight and narrow path of the law and once given a chance, will put his words into action. This firearm conviction puts him in a position where he won’t be able to visit the United States at all to see his children and he deeply regrets the circumstances.”

Dyer also said that Phillip’s mother, who resides in the United States, was in constant contact with him since his arrest and is also asking the court to “have mercy on him.”

“He is at the mercy of the court, having found himself in that situation for the first time and is begging for another chance in life,” Dyer concluded.

“The court is not satisfied on the rest of the charges and they are all dismissed…only three now stands,” presiding magistrate, Asquith Riviere, stated.

He told Phillip, “I have bent as far back as I could go…I have dealt with you leniently. I did not add the aggravating issues associated with the case in my sentence. I, however, urge you to try not to get into this again.”

Phillip was fined four thousand dollars with one thousand to be paid by January 31, 2019 and the remainder to be paid in two installments of $1,500.00 each by March 31, 2019. In default, he goes to jail for 30 months.

He was charged another four thousand dollars, one thousand of which must be paid by January 31, 2019 with the reminder to be paid in two installments of $1,500.00 each by May 31, 2019, in default 30 months jail. On the third charge, he was fined two thousand dollars to be paid by July 15, 2019, in default 15 months jail.

The Venezuelan remains in custody and will be brought back to court to face deportation since he had over stayed his time in Dominica having entered the island legally.

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13 Comments

  1. failing system
    January 17, 2019

    And there you have it! SMFH again

  2. Unknown
    January 17, 2019

    The man took the fall for the Venezuelan and Jamaican and they brushing fly with him? Dominica legal system is a joke, you want to cover for others then face the penalty. I’m truly starting to wonder in the system is not corrupt. Business Man my butt, he didn’t know that before he did what he did then protecting others

  3. old sake
    January 16, 2019

    a man on bail for a gun murder charge.. waw.. illegal guns run the vibes

  4. Anonymous2
    January 16, 2019

    They did not find guns. The article clearly said they found ammunition. Read and understand people before jumping to conclusion.

  5. January 16, 2019

    They did not find guns. The article clearly says they found ammunition. Read and understand people before jumping to conclusion.

  6. Anonymous
    January 16, 2019

    They did not find guns. The article said they found ammunition. Read and understand people!

    • Iamanidiot
      January 17, 2019

      Uh huh…. There were spent shells, guess he fire them with his fingers.

    • Pipo
      January 17, 2019

      So mister collecting bullets and spent Shells for a hobby? And he need the service of Ma Dyer to defensie him for that?

  7. Iamanidiot
    January 16, 2019

    The chief of police the other day was saying oh we cannot control guns, too much gun violence, war on guns etc etc etc. when they see fellas getting a slap on the wrist for an arsenal at their home, You think they going to care? What his mother calling have to do with nothing? Why his mother didnt ask her son exactly what he doing with all those guns an ammunition. You’ll want to have allu cake and still eat it.

  8. Wowsa!!!!
    January 16, 2019

    How do these people pay these fines? I am GRATEFUL I get paid a COUPLE thousands per month (many people get a lot less) and have to pay utilities, car loan, (post-Maria) house repair loan, vehicle maintenance costs, send children to school (huge ongoing costs) and groceries. Wow. Some people really have $$$ while some of us gwaye’ing.

    • Anonymous
      January 16, 2019

      And this does not include his lawyer’s costs, remember but mister is smiling!

    • Me
      January 16, 2019

      If is me get that fine I fainting right away a smile would be the furthest thing from my mi d.

  9. Sweat
    January 16, 2019

    They should jail him tomany times our courts allow people to walk free with guns and bullets am very disappointed

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