Arrest of foreigners at Sangster airport with single bullet needs scrutiny - lawyer

King's Counsel Peter Champagnie says the frequency with which foreigners are held at the Sangster International Airport in St James with possession of a single round of ammunition needs to be scrutinised. 

He made the assertion while making a mitigation plea last week for his client, Lynn McGovern, 61, an American lawyer who was found guilty in the St James Parish Court of illegal possession of one round of ammunition.

Parish Judge Sasha Marie Ashley imposed a fine of $60,000 or 30 days' imprisonment.

Champagnie said the court's finding must be respected but he had to question the frequency of similar incidents at the airport in Montego Bay, the capital of the western parish.  

McGovern had visited the island for a few days before her planned departure on October 31, 2021.

While going through the security checkpoint, it was discovered she had a round of ammunition in her handbag. She did not have a permit for it and could not give any explanation as to how it got into her possession. 

The woman was arrested and charged.

The lawyer insisted she was innocent and wanted to contest the allegations. She was granted bail and given permission to travel to her home in Chicago. She returned to Jamaica on four occasions until the case was tried last week.

During the trial, while being unable to account for how the ammunition got into her handbag, she insisted she was not guilty. The woman said she was not a firearm holder and had never violated any laws in her life.

Champagnie asked the court to take into account his client's unblemished record and the fact that notwithstanding the strong possibility of her not being imprisoned, she had returned to the island at great expense to contest the trial.

He submitted further that her conduct inconsistent with guilt.

However, the judge in finding her guilty, noted that there was no dispute of fact that she was in physical possession of the ammunition.

Champagnie pointed out that there have been at least two recent instances in which similar situations had arisen where foreigners departing the island were found in possession of a single round of ammunition. 

He said between July to August this year alone, two Americans were allegedly found with ammunition whilst leaving from Sangster International Airport. 

He said in those cases, accused persons pleaded guilty, which he said may have been out of expediency given that invariably such offences ordinarily attract a minimal fine.

Champagnie argued that the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston seemed not to have had a similar experience with outgoing passengers.

The senior lawyers declined to go into details about the case, when contacted.

He is urging the relevant oversight bodies to place greater scrutiny over the cases emerging from Sangster International Airport. 

- Barbara Gayle

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