Two men yesterday appeared before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court to answer the charge of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition without a licence.
According to the particulars of the charge, on December 8 the accused Fazil Mohammed of Lot 1 East Ruimveldt and Hubert Bartholemew, 40, of Lot 58 Howes Street, Charlestown, were charged for having in their possession a .32 Taurus pistol while they were not the holder of a firearm licence in force at the time.
Additionally, the duo was further charged with having twelve live matching rounds in their possession.
Both of the accused pleaded not guilty after the charges were read to them by acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine–Beharry.
In presenting the police facts to the court, Prosecutor Lionel Harvey said that on the day in question police acting on information followed motorcycle CD 367 that the men were riding. Harvey further related that the police officers ordered the men to stop the motorbike in the vicinity of Dennis and Middleton streets but they refused and subsequently crashed into a parked minibus. He said that Mohammed who was the rider of the bike fell to the ground and his accomplice fled the scene. The police then gave chase and they observed the accused pulling an object from his waist and throwing it to the ground. Harvey said that the object was later discovered to be a firearm.
After stating the facts the prosecution objected to bail for the number two accused taking into consideration that he had the firearm in his possession. Mohammed, the other accused, was placed on $200,000 bail.
The men who were represented by attorney-at-law Adrian Thompson will make another court appearance on January 12.
