Guard suspended after gun stolen

A SECURITY guard employed to the Central Bank has been suspended from duty after his gun went missing.

Reports are that he left his gun inside a first floor bathroom close to the entrance lobby of the Bank of Jamaica and it was stolen.

The firearm is the property of the bank and the 57-year-old driver/security officer, who has been employed by the bank for 26 years, was the holder of a firearm users permit.

The Bank of Jamaica (BoJ) yesterday confirmed the theft and said it was co-operating with the police while it did its own internal review on the matter. The bank said it viewed the matter "very seriously".

Reports that the driver had been dismissed were denied by the bank.

Commanding Officer of Kingston Central Police Division, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) George Quallo, told The Gleaner yesterday that between 2:45 p.m. and 2:50 p.m., on June 13, the driver went to use the bathroom to which members of the public also have access.

It is reported that the security officer left his .38 pistol with six rounds inside the bathroom and went outside. But when he returned five minutes later to retrieve it, the gun was missing and the matter was reported immediately to the police.

The bank statement yesterday also added that: "On the day in question, at least two different groups of persons were visiting the bank, and both groups, as well as any individual who may have been visiting at the time, could have had access to this bathroom."

The police say they have not yet identified any suspects.

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