Benedict Thompson, one of two persons arrested after the discovery of an arms cache that included AK-47 rifles and grenades at Lethem, was yesterday arraigned on weapons possession charges.
Thompson, 19, was remanded to prison after pleading not guilty to the four charges read against him by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
The police are claiming that Thompson was found with a weapon and then led them to the location of others—but the man’s lawyer refuted their account and he suggested that the weapons could have been from those used in the 1969 Rupununi Uprising.
A Lethem contractor is being sought by police over the discovery of an arms cache. The man, known by the call name ‘Bora,’ is suspected to have fled to Brazil. Thompson, who is the man’s employee, was arrested as well as the man’s wife, who may also face charges. They were both brought to the city on Tuesday.
Thompson was charged with having in his possession an AK-47 rifle without being the owner of a firearm licence.
He was also charged with having in his possession 389 7.62×39 live rounds, without a licence to use such.
He was charged as well with possession of three AK-47 rifles, six M15 rifles, four AK-47 magazines, an AK-47 drum magazine, and one M15 magazine, without being a licensed firearm holder.
In addition, he was charged with having two anti-riot grenades without lawful authority to have such weapons in his possession.
Prosecutor Winneth Hubbard said that at 3:30pm on Monday, ranks on duty in the district observed Thompson acting suspiciously. They approached him and searched him and found a firearm on him.
The policemen then asked Thompson if he was a licensed firearm holder and he is alleged to have replied no. Hubbard added that he was then arrested and then he carried the officers to different locations where other weapons were found.
But attorney Glenn Hanoman, who represented Thompson, said that his account differed from that of the prosecution. He stated that the weapons were found buried in an open yard and could very well be the same ones used in the Rupununi Uprising, where high powered weapons were used.
Hanoman also asked the prosecutor if a ballistic report was done on the weapons to see if they were in working condition. Hubbard said that the report will be done during the trial.
Hanoman brought Thompson’s injuries to the magistrate’s attention, saying they were as a result of being beaten to some parts of his body by police officers. He identified two of the man’s assailants as “Arjoon and Innis,” while noting that his client told him that he was choked with a belt and beaten with it to force him to write a statement.
Hanoman added that although he requested that the policemen take Thompson to the hospital for medical attention, they refused.
Magistrate Sewnarine-Beharry said that she saw that there were some injuries to his face on television. She ordered that the police ensure that Thompson get medical attention before he was taken to prison. She subsequently transferred the case to the Lethem Magistrate’s Court, where it is to be called on December 4.
