A Venezuelan soldier was yesterday remanded to a local prison after being charged with shooting at a countryman and having an unlicensed gun and ammunition in the Cuyuni area.
The charges against Johnny Ventura Gomez Rivas, 27, are that on December 5, at Eteringbang Landing, Cuyuni, he discharged a loaded firearm at Johangalo Joveira with intent to maim, disfigure, disable or cause grievous bodily harm; and that on the same day he had a Taurus 9 mm pistol and nine matching rounds without licences.
Rivas, through his interpreter, denied the charges when they were read to him by Magistrate Ann McLennan.
Attorney Mark Conway, in an unsuccessful attempt to secure bail for Rivas, said the man is a sergeant in the Venezuelan military, has been employed for the past seven years, with an unblemished record.
He said his client was on duty in the Eteringbang area and that the matters are being resolved “diplomatically,” as talks were being held between the Foreign Ministry and Venezuela.
To support this submissions, he presented to the court Consulate Officer for the Venezuelan Embassy Heriderto Villegal and Head of the Venezuelan Military at Eteringbang Landing Ricardo Riera.
Conway asked the court to release his client into the custody of Villegal and Riera, as he will return to stand trial if the court so instructs.
Asked whether his client was in Guyana’s waters at the time of the incident, Conway said he was on duty “in the Venezuela area” and “there are no markings in these areas.”
Magistrate McLennan questioned this saying “there must be markings” which establish territorial boundaries.
Prosecutor Deniro Jones said he was not aware of any talks regarding a diplomatic settlement. He said advice was yet to be sought from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Jones objected to bail.
The court upheld the prosecution’s objections and Rivas was remanded to prison until tomorrow. The magistrate ordered Jones to have all clarifications regarding the case ascertained by the adjourned date.
