JUN LAN CHEN, the non-English-speaking national who was granted a firearm user’s licence (FUL) and later charged for possession of ammunition, was cleared of the charge on Friday after the State failed to produce evidence.

When the matter was called before Magistrate Avason Quinlan in the Port of Spain 4B courtroom, court prosecutor Insp Winston Dillon informed Quinlan that only one witness was available to give evidence.

Dillon further informed her that he was not in possession of the witness’s statement and added that he would be at a disadvantage as he would have no idea what the witness would say.

Quinlan told Dillon that the matter had some vintage and added that since August 20 she had ordered that Dillon contact the offices of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the acting Commissioner of Police concerning the matter.

’The court not playing games with anybody. The information on this is the same as when the matter first came up,’ she added.

After Dillon was denied an adjournment to have the file with the witness’s statement before he began the matter, Quinlan discharged the matter, saying that the prosecution refused to call any witnesses.

Chen, of Joannie Avenue, Hillsborough, Maraval, was charged by way of summons which was issued on July 14.

Her first appearance was on August 19.

Chen was charged for possession of three rounds of ammunition after she went to the Maraval Police Station on October 21 last year to re-new her permit, which was issued in 1998.

Chen, who is allowed to have 25 rounds of ammunition, had three extra rounds.

Chen raised suspicion when she told the police she could not speak or write English and that she was out of the country for two years, preventing her from renewing her permit in 2007, since, according to law, gun owners must renew their permit every year.

Chen, the proprietor of a casino at Woodbrook, was represented by defence attorney Wesmen James.