Free National Movement (FNM) Senator John Bostwick was arrested in Freeport on Saturday after he attempted to board a domestic flight with 10 rounds of ammunition in his possession.
According to police, the senator was arrested following a routine search of his bag while at the Grand Bahama International Airport (GBIA) when authorities spotted the ammunition in the X-ray security scanning system.
Officials said Bostwick was travelling from Grand Bahama to New Providence.
The Journal was reliably informed that on Saturday at about 7:25 p.m., a female security officer at the GBIA reported that while scanning a black backpack reportedly belonging to Bostwick, a passenger on Bahamasair flight 328 noticed what appeared to be an image of a firearm clip on the monitor prompting her to alert the police.
When airport police officers arrived, they further inspected the image on the security scanner.
According to sources, Bostwick, 42, admitted that the backpack was his.
It is reported that the FNM senator was then informed of the discovery and allowed officers to conduct a further search.
Upon searching the bag, the officers reportedly found a dark coloured P22 cal clip, serial number 2659344-A, along with 10 hallow tip rounds.
Reports are that Bostwick was then cautioned and arrested for possession of ammunition.
The matter was then handed over to officers of the Central Detective Unit (CDU).
Meantime in a brief press statement issued Sunday the FNM noted that the party is aware of the “troubling allegation.”
“The prayers of the party go out to the Bostwick Family during this distressing hour,” the release read.
“As a party which respects the rule of law, we confidently expect a thorough and professional police investigation and urge the public to allow due process to take its proper course.”
Mr. Bostwick is the son of former President of the Senate J. Henry Bostwick and former Attorney General Janet Bostwick.
He was appointed to the Senate last year following the resignation of Zhivargo Laing.
Mr. Bostwick also ran unsuccessfully for the Bain’s and Grant’s Town constituency in the 2012 General Election.
Investigations continue.
