Businessman among two charged for importation, possession of firearms without licence

Businessman Alison Balcombe has been arrested and charged, along with Brian Nanton for the importation and possession of firearms without a licence.{{more}}

They appeared at the Kingstown Magistrates’ Court last Friday, where Senior Magistrate Donald Browne read out the eight charges against the men.

The court heard that on August 14 a quantity of firearms and ammunition, including one .22, a .357 and a .38 revolver and 100 rounds of .22 and .38 ammunition were discovered at the Campden Park port.

Balcombe and Nanton both pleaded not guilty to all charges and bail was set at $20,000 each, with one surety. The court also ordered the men to surrender all travel documents, including their driver’s licences and identification cards.

Prosecutor Assistant Superintendent of Police Arnold King did not challenge the request for bail.

Balcombe was also ordered to report to the Georgetown Police Station and Nanton to the Colonarie Police Station between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Mondays.

However, Dr Linton Lewis, the men’s lawyer, objected to the Magistrate’s request for all the men’s documents to be surrendered.

He argued that Balcombe, as a businessman, would be required to use his I.D. card to conduct regular business.

After some deliberation, the magistrate amended the terms of the bail, stating that the men would no longer be required to surrender their I.D. cards.

In 2009, Balcombe and his son Cameron “Dinky” Balcombe, a former North Central Windward candidate for the opposition New Democratic Party, were jointly charged for having in their possession 13 rounds of .22 ammunition and two rounds of 12-gauge ammunition without a licence.

The senior Balcombe was subsequently fined $600, to be paid forthwith or spend three months in prison.

The charge against Cameron Balcombe was dismissed.

The current matter was transferred to the Serious Offences Court and Balcombe and Nanton will make their first appearance on this charge on Thursday. (DD)