A dredge operator was yesterday remanded to prison after he was slapped with two separate charges, namely possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition both of which he denied.
It is alleged that on December 24 at Mazaruni, Arthur Cort, 55, of 38 Parika, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), had in his possession one 12-gauge pump action shotgun without being the holder of a firearm licence.
It is also alleged that on the same day, Cort also had in his possession two 12-gauge cartridges without being the holder of a firearm licence.
Cort pleaded not guilty to both charges read to him by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court 1.
According to the prosecution’s facts, on the day in question, police received information that a gun had been fired in the area. They went to the area where they saw two camps, one of which belongs to Cort but nothing was found in that one. Cort told the police that someone by the name of Max hid the firearm and he carried them to where the firearm was believed to be hidden. Max was contacted, asked about the firearm and denied knowing anything in relation to it resulting in Cort later being charged. The court also heard that in the caution statement Cort said that he does use the firearm for hunting but Max hid it.
Cort’s attorney, Pamela DeSantos made an application for bail to be granted to her client. She said it is because of Cort making a complaint to the Neighbourhood Democratic Council in the area about the unlicensed firearm in another camp that caused “bad blood” between the two. She added that they also made several threats to Cort and surrounded his camp and when he wasn’t around they entered his camp and destroyed some of the items found in it. DeSantos said she was also made to understand that some of the items belonging to Cort are currently in the other camp. She told the court that the firearm was found in some bushes between the two camps.
During the court hearing, it was noted that apart from being the operator of two dredges in Mazaruni, Cort is also Chairman of the Parika Small Miners Association and a social welfare officer.
The matter was transferred to the Bartica Magistrate’s Court for January 8.
