Matthew Leacock and Andrew Thom, both of Nottinghamshire, Mackenzie, Linden appeared before Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Christianburg Magistrate’s Court yesterday to answer charges of possession of narcotics and an unlicensed firearm.

The duo was remanded to prison on May 27 when they were allegedly found with 30 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking and reportedly had in their possession a double barrel shotgun while they were not licensed.

The two accused were taken into police custody on May 21  when a raid was conducted at their Nottinghamshire home.

The two had told Stabroek News that on the night in question they were awakened by some soldiers and badly beaten and taken to the Mackenzie Police Station. They had claimed that the soldiers had forced their weapons into their mouths and dragged them through a creek before taking them to the Mackenzie Police Station.

The men bore  marks of violence about their  bodies which they said were inflicted by the soldiers. The following day they were sent for medical attention without a  police escort and were told to return to the station the same day.

When their case was called yesterday Thom remained silent but Leacock pleaded with the magistrate to let him out on bail as he  was feeling very weak because he was beaten. However his bail application was denied and the two are to return to court on July 14.