Illegal Windhoek arms dealer fined

THE co-owner of a Windhoek shop selling cellphones, music systems and computers was sentenced to pay fines totalling N$12 000 on Friday after he was convicted on charges of illegally importing and dealing in firearms and ammunition.

Magistrate Sarel Jacobs sentenced Muhammad Moosa Ismail (32), the owner of Cellular Cash & Carry, in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court after he had found Ismail guilty on two charges of contravening the Arms and Ammunition Act of 1996. Moosa denied the charges when his trial started before Magistrate Jacobs on January 25.He was charged both in his personal capacity and in his capacity as representative of Cellular Cash & Carry Close Corporation.In the first charge, Ismail and Cellular Cash & Carry were accused of having imported 117 air rifles and 64 000 pellets that are used as ammunition for this type of rifle into Namibia through the Ariamsvlei border post on June 29 2005 without having the required permit for bringing the goods into the country.In the second charge, it was alleged that Ismail and his business had dealt in arms and ammunition – again being 117 air rifles and 64 000 rounds of ammunition for this type of gun – at Cellular Cash & Carry’s shop in Independence Avenue in Windhoek on July 13 2005 without having a legally required arms dealer’s licence.According to documentation submitted to the court as evidence in the trial, Cellular Cash & Carry bought the rifles at prices ranging between N$107,10 and N$250 a piece.In Windhoek, they were offered for sale at N$525 or N$599 a piece.Magistrate Jacobs found Cellular Cash & Carry guilty on the charge that it had illegally imported the guns and pellets.In his personal capacity, Ismail was found guilty on the charge of illegally dealing in guns and ammunition.The Magistrate sentenced Ismail to pay a fine of N$5 000 or serve a one-year prison sentence.In his capacity as representative of Cellular Cash & Carry, Ismail was sentenced to pay a fine of N$7 000.Ismail was also declared unfit to possess a firearm for a period of two years.The 117 air rifles and ammunition involved in the case were further declared forfeited to the State.Both fines were paid on Friday.Public Prosecutor Sandra Miller conducted the prosecution.Ismail was represented by lawyer Chris Brandt.Moosa denied the charges when his trial started before Magistrate Jacobs on January 25.He was charged both in his personal capacity and in his capacity as representative of Cellular Cash & Carry Close Corporation.In the first charge, Ismail and Cellular Cash & Carry were accused of having imported 117 air rifles and 64 000 pellets that are used as ammunition for this type of rifle into Namibia through the Ariamsvlei border post on June 29 2005 without having the required permit for bringing the goods into the country.In the second charge, it was alleged that Ismail and his business had dealt in arms and ammunition – again being 117 air rifles and 64 000 rounds of ammunition for this type of gun – at Cellular Cash & Carry’s shop in Independence Avenue in Windhoek on July 13 2005 without having a legally required arms dealer’s licence.According to documentation submitted to the court as evidence in the trial, Cellular Cash & Carry bought the rifles at prices ranging between N$107,10 and N$250 a piece.In Windhoek, they were offered for sale at N$525 or N$599 a piece.Magistrate Jacobs found Cellular Cash & Carry guilty on the charge that it had illegally imported the guns and pellets.In his personal capacity, Ismail was found guilty on the charge of illegally dealing in guns and ammunition.The Magistrate sentenced Ismail to pay a fine of N$5 000 or serve a one-year prison sentence.In his capacity as representative of Cellular Cash & Carry, Ismail was sentenced to pay a fine of N$7 000.Ismail was also declared unfit to possess a firearm for a period of two years.The 117 air rifles and ammunition involved in the case were further declared forfeited to the State.Both fines were paid on Friday.Public Prosecutor Sandra Miller conducted the prosecution.Ismail was represented by lawyer Chris Brandt.