Airport for gun importation and thrown into jail on the weekend, a lawyer told Magistrates' Court yesterday.

It turned out David Levon Shagirian, 35, was a legitimate foreign businessman who was unaware of Bermuda's strict gun laws.

While he waited in a Police cell, authorities learned the Russian-born California resident was here looking at the US Navy base as a possible site for a diamond processing plant, the Court heard.

Shagirian's frustrations grew when his lawyer's request to get his confiscated nine-millimetre handgun back met with resistance from Police and Senior Magistrate the Wor. Will Francis.

The businessman was fined $2,000 after pleading guilty to importing a Glock semi-automatic handgun and a magazine with 15 rounds of ammunition.

Mr. Jeffrey Elkinson said his wealthy client carried the gun for protection.

He "lived in fear of being kidnapped or straight forward bludgeoning and daylight robbery'' due to the nature of his work.

His client transported valuable diamonds, he said.

The San Francisco Police Department had advised him to carry a gun, the lawyer noted.

Prosecutor Insp. Peter Duffy told the court the prohibited weapon and ammunition were found in his suitcases by Customs officers.

He had just arrived in Bermuda on a US flight on Sunday and he readily admitted ownership, Insp. Duffy said.

Mr. Elkinson said Shagirian had a licence for the gun from San Francisco authorities and often travelled with it on business trips around the world.

Senior Magistrate the Wor. Will Francis said he was "amazed'' the well-travelled Shagirian was unaware guns were illegal here.

Mr. Elkinson said perhaps because of its proximity, Americans often forgot Bermuda was not part of their country.

He produced a letter from the San Francisco City Commissioner in an effort to prove his client's upstanding character.

The Commissioner said he was a highly respected businessman in the city and had donated a helicopter, among other things, to it.

Mr. Elkinson also handed Mr. Francis a balance sheet from Shagirian's company Golden ADA showing a bottom line of millions.

He suggested visitors, like locals, should be given declaration forms to fill out on arriving flights to avoid the unfortunate situation Shagirian landed in.

Mr. Elkinson said: "He came to the Island with his directors with the intention of making a substantial investment and establishing a company here...and he was locked up behind bars, which is not a pleasant thing for a man of his reputation. His laces and belt were taken away.'' His client was in the diamond cutting, polishing and setting business.

Mr. Francis reserved judgment on whether to return Shagirian's gun to him, ordering him to reappear in court on Friday for a hearing over the issue.

Insp. Duffy said the lawyer's request for the gun back had taken him by surprise.