Three university students face being imprisoned for allegedly planning to import ammunitions and guns from the US through an arms dealer in Arizona with whom they communicated with on WhatsApp.
Students from Coventry University, Shajee Buhary, Gabriel Addai-Brmpah and Matthew Sidhu, all 23 years of age, appeared at Warwick Crown Court.
Prosecutor Charles Crinion told the jury, “This case concerns three Coventry University students, intelligent young men who have willingly got themselves involved in serious criminality, the importing and selling of prohibited firearms. Why did they get themselves involved? Perhaps they thought it was cool, perhaps it was for the money.”
All three had initially denied the allegations but Buhary changed his plea to guilty and the others were convicted. However, Sidhu was cleared of conspiracy to import the weapons, but was found guilty of the other two charges against him.
Judge Sally Hancox told Sidhu, “This jury has found you guilty of your part in two conspiracies, one to import ammunition from the US into the UK, and one for your part in the criminal selling of what by then would have amounted to illegal firearms. There can only be one type of sentence to be imposed, and that is a custodial sentence. These types of offences attract a minimum term of custody of five years. The sentence you receive will exceed that figure.”
All the were remanded in custody. Sentencing will take place on a later date.
