Acting Chief Magistrate Cecil Sullivan yesterday remanded to prison a Linden businessman who pleaded not guilty to three charges of unlawful possession when he appeared before him at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.
According to the facts of the case Collis Mentis, 29, of Fair’s Rust, McKenzie, on December 30, at the said location, allegedly had in his possession forged currency, that is, five one thousand dollar notes.
He also allegedly had one .38 Rossi revolver and five rounds of .38 ammunition without being the holder of a firearm licence. CANU was said to have carried out a search on his home.
Attorney-at-law Vic Puran, who appeared on Mentis’ behalf, told the court that there was no allegation that the firearm was intended for committing a felony nor was it used in the commission of a felony.
He said his client along with his mother and wife were arrested and the mother was in police custody for four days. Puran said the police induced his client to give a statement so that his mother could go free. He added that Mentis is a businessman and that the $5000 that is alleged to be forged currency was in a bundle of $300,000 which he had after he hosted a dance. Further, that customers unknown to him passed the money to him. Puran also said his client is the owner of a hotel and is a farmer who supplies ‘greens’. He said Mentis is not a flight risk and that he was instructed that the gun that was found was not on his person and his client was not aware that it was there and that it was not working.
Police Prosecutor Sherwin Matthews objected to bail.
Mentis was ordered to appear at the Christianburg Magistrate’s Court on February 6.
