Council worker Mark Anthony Maluga faces a Biloela court on seven weapons charges

A Banana man was found illegally possessing five rifles, a loaded shotgun, and ammunition at his Banana residence.

Guns and ammunition were found at a Banana man’s house.

A council worker has faced a Biloela court after he was found illegally possessing five rifles, a loaded shotgun and ammunition.

Mark Anthony Maluga, 53, pleaded guilty in Biloela Magistrates Court on October 13 to seven weapons related charges.

The court heard that on March 28, police found Maluga in possession of the weapons, as well as shotgun ammunition and 22-calibre rifle ammunition, at his residence at Banana.

The prosecution said the loaded shotgun was found on the floor in a bedroom with ammunition alongside it.

The five rifles were found in a caravan at the property.

Maluga told police that he knew he was not a weapons licence holder but he kept the guns because they were his late father’s and they had sentimental value to the family.

He said he never intended to use them and he just wanted to keep them.

The weapons and ammunition were seized by police.

Maluga’s solicitor said Maluga was a council worker of eight years who also had a night-fill job.

The solicitor said Maluga’s father was a weapons collector and when he died two or three years ago, Maluga had not gone through the proper processes he should have in order to keep them.

The solicitor said the ammunition was “basically unusable” and the court heard that Maluga had no criminal history and that he was very co-operative with police.

The court was told that Maluga’s sister had applied for a licence so that she could keep the weapons.

Magistrate Philippa Beckinsale noted that Maluga had no criminal history, before fining him $2000.

No conviction was recorded.

There was a forfeiture order made for the ammunition, but not for the weapons.

Originally published as Council worker Mark Anthony Maluga faces a Biloela court on seven weapons charges