A West Ruimveldt teen was yesterday remanded to prison by the Chief Magistrate after pleading not guilty to illegal possession of a firearm charge.
Objections to bail were raised by the prosecution when Alex Mendonca, 18, appeared in Georgetown Magistrates’ Court One. According to Prosecutor Michael Grant, on January 21, at West Ruimveldt, a firearm had been found in the possession of Mendonca.
Acting on a tip, police officers had gone to the young man’s West Ruimveldt home at about 7 am on January 21 to conduct a search. Mendonca, who lives with his mother, had been locked in his bedroom when the officers arrived. His mother had no access to his room, Grant said. It was only after she knocked and requested entry did Mendonca open the door. A search was conducted and a .32 Taurus pistol, along with 26 rounds of matching ammunition, was found.
Mendonca’s lawyer, George Thomas, stated that two persons, the mother of his client and Mendonca himself, had been arrested. Though the mother had been released, Mendonca was charged and kept in custody, he added.
However, prosecutor Grant explained that the mother had not been arrested but had simply been taken in for questioning.
When given the opportunity, Prosecutor Grant raised an objection to bail, listing the nature, gravity, and prevalence of the offence as his reasons. He further added that no special reasons had been given by the defence to warrant bail.
Mendonca was therefore refused bail by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry and the case was transferred to court 3 for a date for report and fixtures. He is scheduled to return to court on Monday, January 27.
