By PAVEL BAILEY
Tribune Court Reporter
pbailey@tribunemedia.net
AN American woman was fined $500 in Magistrate’s Court yesterday for having a live round of 9mm ammunition in her luggage.
Jamilla Thomas, 33, of California, appeared before Senior Magistrate Samuel McKinney.
On May 29, at the Lynden Pindling International Airport pre-clearance lounge, a homeward-bound Thomas was arrested by authorities after a US border protection screening officer uncovered a single 9mm bullet in her luggage.
In a subsequent interview, the accused admitted to possessing the bullet.
However, she said she was unaware of the round being in her bag and that she possessed a firearm licence in the US.
Thomas pleaded guilty to the offence in court.
Attorney Alphonso Lewis III, represented Lewis, and said she was remorseful for not checking her bag thoroughly.
He further explained that a currently pregnant Thomas was only in The Bahamas to attend her sister’s wedding that weekend.
In view of this and the fact that the accused has no previous convictions, Lewis implored the court to just impose a fine on his client and not a custodial sentence.
Magistrate McKinney ordered Thomas to pay a $500 fine or risk spending two months in custody.
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