DPP Advises Police to Move Forward with Negligence Charge Against Phillip Paulwell After Firearm Theft

Phillip Paulwell, Member of Parliament (MP) for Kingston Eastern and Port Royal, will face negligence charges following the theft of his firearm earlier this year.

According to reports, the police reached out to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), Paula Llewellyn, for instructions on how to proceed after receiving a report from Paulwell. Head of the Criminal Investigations Branch (CIB), Senior Superintendent Cleon Marsh, has reportedly confirmed that DPP Llewellyn recently issued her ruling, and Paulwell is to be charged for the negligent loss of his firearm, which occurred in July.

The MP recently shared with the Jamaica Observer that the incident happened in Hope Pastures, St. Andrew, during an emergency stop after he had carried his close protection officer home. According to Paulwell, he was away from the vehicle for less than ten minutes and, upon his return, discovered the back window of his car smashed and the weapon stolen. Paulwell explained that the bag, which kept his firearm hidden in a pouch, was on the floor of the vehicle before it and its contents were taken. He disclosed that the bag was usually kept there when his security personnel was driving the car.

The former PNP chairman went on to state that he immediately reported the incident to the police and gave a statement to the Firearm Licensing Authority (FLA). The MP has implored the perpetrator of the theft to take advantage of the current gun amnesty, which ends on November 19, and return the weapon to the authorities.