A BASIN View woman who allegedly hid two pistols and a quantity of ammunition at a Huskisson motel has been refused bail.
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Police were called to the Bayside Resort Motel at Huskisson on September 29 after staff discovered a .45 calibre semi-automatic Pardini pistol and a magazine, a .375 calibre Magnum six-shot revolver and 24 12-gauge shotgun rounds in a leather waistband.
Kelly Kerim, 47, appeared before Magistrate David Williams in Nowra Local Court on Thursday charged with possessing an unregistered unauthorised pistol in a public place, possessing an unregistered unauthorised prohibited firearm in a public place, possessing ammunition without holding a licence and with not keeping a firearm safely.
Evidence before the court stated Kerim was residing at the motel on a short term placement by the Department of Housing.
She was seen by motel staff acting suspiciously at the rear of a communal garbage bin at the complex.
A staff member allegedly saw Kerim leave her room carrying a garbage bin and approach the large skip bin.
Instead of emptying the bin she was seen kneeling down next to a large bamboo screen and placing items behind the bin.
When staff investigated they found a shoe box, wrapped in a number of plastic shopping bags containing the two pistols and ammunition, which were hidden inside socks and wrapped in a black material bag.
When interviewed by police Kerim admitted to having possession of the firearms but claimed to have found them on the side of the road while making a phone call in the nearby township of Tomerong the previous day.
She told police she kicked the box and it felt heavy so she placed it in her car without looking inside.
She said she got caught up with other activities, including talking to real estates and other agencies before returning to the motel and then travelling to Nowra. It wasn’t until later that evening she opened the box and discovered its contents.
She told detectives police she was busy the next morning with more errands and then “panicked and didn’t know what to do” so rather than contact police and hand the firearms in, she placed them behind the bin.
Police alleged the guns were placed there for a ‘“deal” with another as yet unknown person to purchase.
After further investigations Kerim was arrested and charged by police on October 27. The matter will be back in court on November 7.