ST CATHERINE, Jamaica — A tanker driver accused of having his licensed firearm in a polling station during the September 2020 General Elections, was freed in the St Catherine Parish Court today.

Ian Walter, 56, was freed after the prosecution withdrew its case following a submission by his attorney.

It was alleged that on Election Day, September 3, 2020, Walters was near a polling station at the Holiness Temple Basic School in St Catherine.

He was directed to join a line to cast his vote but was observed having a bulge in his waistband. Upon enquiry by the police, it was revealed that it was his firearm.

Walters was asked to produce his firearm for inspection but refused. He subsequently handed it over upon the third request. It was revealed to Walters that he was in breach of the Firearms Act, which prohibited him from having his firearm at such a location.

However, when the matter was called up, Walters’ lawyer, Peter Champagnie, submitted that there were no breaches. The attorney argued that the legislation exempted people like Walters who were about their lawful business to cast their vote.

It was pointed out that at the time, Walters had been directed to join the line by the police to cast his vote when the discovery was made.

Regarding the charge of failing to hand over his firearm, it was submitted that this was done, albeit on the third request. Champagnie, therefore, suggested that there was no failure to hand over the gun.

Following the attorney’s submission, the prosecution withdrew the charges against Walters.

Champagnie also pointed out that in any event, there was no evidence to suggest that his client was within 100 metres of the polling station as was stipulated by law that would have given rise to any breach.

David Dunkley