A Brazilian woman was yesterday remanded to prison after a police search uncovered guns and ammunition in her shop in the interior.
The charge against Ana Dias Araujo, stated that on October 24, in the Cuyuni area, she had in her possession a .380 Taurus pistol and a .38 revolver without being the holder of a firearm licence. Additionally, Araujo was also charged with possession of three .38 live rounds of ammunition. She pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Prosecutor Michael Grant told the court that police and soldiers were on a joint patrol when they acted on information and conducted a search on Araujo’s shop in her presence. He said the weapons were found wrapped in a curtain hanging in her shop, leading to the woman’s arrest.
But Peter Hugh, the woman’s attorney, said that she has always been a target in the area for law enforcement. He said on four occasions her shop was searched but officers came up empty handed. Since she has many employees and persons have easy access to her premises, Hugh suggested that the guns and ammunition could have been placed in her shop by anyone.
Although Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, after perusing the case file, stated that the items mentioned in the charge were found in the woman’s “bedroom,” as opposed to the general shop area, Hugh said it was a sleeping area that was not discrete from the rest of the business.
In his bail application, Hugh told the court that Araujo doesn’t pose a flight risk since her passport has been surrendered to the police. He also stated that she is a proprietor of a large shop and she also operates a dredge in addition to a food business and internet services in the interior area as well. As a result, he said Araujo has significant ties to her community.
Grant, however, objected to bail based on the grounds that no special circumstances were advanced and that Araujo might not return for trial. As a result, bail was refused and Araujo was remanded until November 6, when the case will be called at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court.
