‘Jankalar’ jailed for single bullet

Sep 25, 2008 News

-“I thought it was a pendant”

Sherwin Pinder

After placing himself at the mercy of the court, Sherwin Pinder received the minimum penalty for pleading guilty to possession of ammunition.

The 33-year-old accused appeared yesterday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court before Acting Chief Magistrate, Melissa Robertson-Ogle, following his arrest on Sunday for being in possession of one live .22 round of ammunition without being the holder of a valid firearm license.

After pleading guilty, he offered to explain himself. Pinder told the court he has no fixed place of abode and when asked where he is employed, Pinder said, “My Worship ah does do jankalar (flunky) wuk”.

At that point the magistrate sought to enquire from the accused what ‘jankalar’ meant and Pinder then explained that he does all kinds of odd jobs around the place.

He told the court that he was weeding the parapet in front of a store on Regent Street when he found the bullet.

“When I see de thing I tek it fuh a piece ah copper pendant so I put it in me pocket and a say I woulda put it on meh bead chain.

“I does see nuff pendant around de place like duh…You think if I know it woulda get me in trouble I woulda keep it fuh three days in meh pocket?” Pinder further told the court that he is into selling copper and also considered selling the bullet.

“Me ain’t got no military experience so I had no idea was a bullet I had or else I woulda report it to de police right away.” He explained to the court that it was only after he was arrested and searched that he was told it was a bullet.

Police Prosecutor Sherwin Matthews then told the court that on the day in question the accused was stopped and searched and the bullet was found in his right side pants pocket. The magistrate then asked the accused if what the prosecutor said was the truth and he concurred.

At that point the magistrate began explaining to the accused that the maximum penalty for the offence is a fine of $5,000 along with three years’ imprisonment and the minimum is $1,000 and one year.

“Meh worship don’t laugh meh; me ain’t understand wha you just tell me; y’all don’t laugh,” Pinder begged of the court, which at that point was in uproar.

The magistrate then explained the sentencing which she was about to impose on the accused and he agreed that he understood. He, however, begged for leniency and was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment and fined $1,000.

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