A media release issued today by the police public relations office states that “Richard Westin a resident of Kentucky, USA said to be a friend of a Canadian Billionaire, “pleaded guilty to filing a false customs declaration and importation of a weapon, at his court appearance on Friday (June 17).”
While the guilty plea was expected, jaws dropped at the fact that he was not charged for illegal possession of a firearm and also at the light sentence he received. According to the report Westin “was fined $10,000.00EC to be paid by June 21, or if in default serve 1 month in Prison.”
Westin was arrested after a firearm was discovered in his luggage while being screened for departure at the Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport on Monday night (June 13). Eye witnesses reported that he was about to depart the Luxurious YU Lounge on board a plane reportedly owned by Peter Nygard a frequent visitor to the island.
After a joint investigation into the incident by the Police and Her Majesty’s Customs and Excise Department, he was charged by the Police with the offence of Failing to declare a weapon, a violation of the Firearms Act Sec 5(01). He was also charged by Her Majesty’s Customs Excise Department with the offence of presenting a False Declaration and Importation of a firearm.
Local concerns of fairness and equity are being raised as to why he was not charged by the police in this matter for possession of the unlicensed fire arm .The police release states that besides the fine “He received a reprimand for the other charges and the firearm has been seized by the Police.”