Man imprisoned for carrying refitted gun

An unemployed ex-convict has been sentenced to 15 months in prison for possessing a starter pistol that had been refitted to fire bullets, the Jing'an district court said Wednesday.

The defendant, whom the court called Kang Mei, 30, was charged with illegal possession of a firearm after police picked him up for drug possession on September 25, according to a press release from Jing'an District People's Court.

Police found Kang carrying a small amount of ketamine and methamphetamine after they stopped him for behaving suspiciously around 1 am near the intersection of Nanjing Road West and Taixing Road in Jing'an district, the court said. They decided to take Kang back to the police station for further questioning.

While in the police car, officers noticed Kang stash a bag into a pocket in one of the rear doors. When they looked inside the bag, they found a loaded firearm.

Kang told police that he had bought the gun for 1,500 yuan ($247) two weeks ago and often showed it off to friends.

Kang has served multiple prison sentences for crimes such as extortion, robbery, assault and kidnapping, the court said. He was most recently released from prison in September 2011.