Man gets 4 years for gun, ammo possession

A man was on Wednesday sent to prison for the next four years after he was found guilty of unlawfully having ammunition and a firearm in his possession.

Raul Franklin, who was charged on numerous occasions for multiple offences, originally denied this allegation.

Making his appearance before Magistrate Judy Latchman, the man was told that the evidence against him was sufficient and the Court believed that he was guilty of the offences.

The charges alleged that he had one .04 pistol and four rounds of ammunition in his position, without being the holder of a firearm or ammunition licence.

Franklin was arrested at Middle Street, La Penitence by ranks after he was observed acting suspiciously.

He was sentenced to four years for each of the two charges, but the sentences are to run concurrently. He was also fined $60,000.

Between 2013 and 2015, Franklin was charged on several occasions at the Sparendaam Court for at least six counts of robbery under arms involving the use of firearms; three counts of discharging loaded firearms – in two cases it was at the police patrol; one case of attempted murder and two cases of serious wounding.