New Amsterdam man with illegal gun, ammo jailed for six years

Jul 25, 2018 Court Stories, Features / Columnists, News

A New Amsterdam man was yesterday found guilty of being in possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition, and was sentenced to six years imprisonment at the Albion Magistrate’s Court.

Cortez Fraser

Cortez Fraser who was unrepresented stood before the court chuckling as the sentence was handed down by Magistrate Renita Singh. He was sentenced to three years for each count, but will serve only three given that the sentence will run concurrently.
The Magistrate stated that questioned during cross examination, Fraser represented himself, and his main interest was the definition of the word “possession”. His interest in that regard, Singh said, gave the impression that because he discarded of the firearm upon seeing the rank, it could be deduced that he was not in possession of the weapon and that he was not guilty of the offence.
Singh further stated that Fraser claimed that he was beaten by ranks to sign the caution statement. The Magistrate added that the statement contained specific details indicating that he had knowledge and was in the process of carrying out a crime.
Details of where the plot was made, timings and phone numbers were given in the statement. She stated that it was in her view that he provided the statement voluntarily and freely. At that point in time Fraser was seen giggling and interrupting the magistrate. He insinuated that the police were lying and that the magistrate was on the police’s side. Fraser also publicly stated that he would be appealing the case.
In March 2017, Detective Corporal Davidson was driving along the Corentyne Highway in the vicinity of Albion when he observed a motorcyclist trailing a car.
A release identified the vehicle as a Toyota Premio PPP 2239, driven by Daneshwar Seitaram, 23, of Lot 16 Miss Phoebe, Port Mourant.
When the driver attempted to make a U-turn, the motorcyclist rode into the car and fell to the ground. He then got up, but the detective observed that the motorcyclist was acting in a strange manner and appeared to be somewhat “nervous”.
The police release also indicated that the motorcyclist removed his helmet, and the detective recognized him as an individual who was once convicted for armed robbery.
The Detective also observed that the motorcyclist had left the bike on the road and entered the car he collided with. The suspicious detective proceeded to trail the car, which stopped near the Hampshire playground. It is alleged that the passenger exited, pulled out what appeared to be a firearm, and threw it into a nearby trench. By then, the detective had already called for back-up, and a sergeant at the Rose Hall Outpost responded and the man was arrested.
The detective then went to the area where the firearm was thrown and found a .38 revolver with four matching rounds.
Based on investigations it was later learnt that Fraser was reportedly hired to execute a Rose Hall Town businessman. A Jamaican national was arrested and subsequently released during that time.

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