A city businessman was yesterday remanded to prison after he was charged with having an unlicensed gun and matching ammunition, which were found during a police search of a vehicle he was driving.
Lance Da Silva, 39, of 280 Lamaha and Thomas streets, Kitty, pleaded not guilty to the two charges read against him in a Georgetown court yesterday.
It is alleged that on November 30, at Hunter Street and Yarrow Dam, he had a 9mm pistol in his possession, while not being a licensed firearm holder.
It is also alleged that on the same day, Da Silva had 10 live matching rounds in his possession.
In an application for bail, attorney Paul Braam, who represented Da Silva, told the court that his client was driving a borrowed vehicle at the time when the police stopped him and conducted a search which uncovered the gun and ammunition.
In seeking bail, he noted that his client is well-settled in his community and is married and a father of four children. He also noted that his client is not a flight risk since he is the owner of two businesses, located at 33 D’Urban Street.
But Prosecutor Deniro Jones stated that Da Silva was the sole owner and custody of the vehicle when the weapon was found.
He added that there was no statement by anyone claiming the vehicle.
He objected to bail, while noting that there was no special reason advanced by the attorney to justify bail.
After considering the submissions, Magistrate Ann McLennan, who presided over the arraignment, remanded Da Silva to prison until December 3rd, when the case will be called at Court Five.
