| Fadley Faisal |

A 44-YEAR-OLD unemployed local man who pleaded guilty to possessing a homemade rifle was sentenced to five years’ jail with three lashes by the Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

Izlin bin Haji Ismail was found in possession of a self-made rifle at his house at Kampong Birau, Tutong, during a raid by Narcotics Control Bureau officers earlier this month.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Hajah Siti Mu’izzah binti Haji Sabli’s facts of the case state that the Royal Brunei Police Force personnel were alerted and further investigations led to the discovery of a long tube which contained several marbles. The defendant admitted that the marbles were meant to be used as bullets and that he learnt how to assemble a rifle from videos he had obtained.

According to the defendant, he had used items such as a gas lighter, buttstock from his son’s toy, PVC pipes, valve pipes and a glue gun to assemble the rifle. An expert’s report confirmed that the rifle is an active arm capable of releasing shots.

Magistrate Dewi Norlelawati binti Haji Abdul Hamid presided.