SHANIEL Watkin, the former Firearms Licensing Authority (FLA) employee who allegedly collected $60,000 from two people under pretence that he could process their gun licence applications, was yesterday remanded in custody.

Watkin, 28, of Waterford in Portmore, St Catherine is scheduled to return to the Corporate Area Criminal Court on March 26 when the case will again be mentioned.

The accused, who has been charged with two counts of larceny by false pretence, allegedly contacted one of the complainants in December last year and offered to help him to get a firearm licence for a payment of $120,000.

The complainant reported the matter to the Organised Crime Investigation Division (OCID) and later agreed to make a part payment of $50,000, which was sent to the accused via Western Union in March of this year.

In the second incident, the accused allegedly contacted another complainant and made the same offer. The matter was also reported to OCID and a sting operation was set up on March 10, when Watkin was reportedly caught receiving $10,000 from the complainant. He was then arrested and charged.

Yesterday, when Watkin appeared before Resident Magistrate Georgianna Fraser, the matter was rescheduled for Friday to allow him time to finalise legal representation.