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Update | Why the FLA returned seized firearm to municipal cop

Published:Wednesday | December 16, 2020 | 4:43 PM
The FLA said it was false and misleading to suggest that court cases filed by attorney Hugh Wildman are leading to success against the authority.

The Firearm Licensing Authority (FLA) has rejected assertions that it returned a licensed weapon to a corporate area municipal officer because his lawyer had taken the entity to court.

Last week, attorney at law Hugh Wildman said the FLA had "thrown in the towel," in the matter relating to his client.

As a result, Wildman said he would be filing a notice to discontinue the case in which he had asked the Judicial Review Court to quash the agency’s decision on the ground that it did not have the authority to seize the firearm.

In a statement today, the FLA said the firearm was returned based on a decision of its five-member board following a thorough investigation into the report against the municipal officer.

“Under the Firearms Act, the FLA is empowered to conduct investigations into alleged breaches of firearm licences, certificates and permits, and do all such other things as it considers necessary or expedient for the purpose of carrying out its functions under the Act,” said a spokesperson in the release.

The FLA maintained that all investigations it conducts are impartial and thorough adding that it was false and misleading to suggest that court cases filed by Wildman are leading to success against the FLA.

In September this year, District Constable Orville Daniels, who is also a municipal cop with the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation, was informed that he should visit the FLA’s head office.

Daniels said on arrival, he was informed that a complaint was made against him in relation to the towing of motor vehicles at a roadside garage the day before. 

According to Daniels, he explained what had happened and informed the FLA that he never pulled his firearm.

He said he was told that his weapon was being seized pending further investigation.

Wildman then took the matter to the Judicial Review Court to seek to quash the FLA’s decision.

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