A policeman was yesterday remanded to prison after he was charged with misusing his service weapon.
Dane Pantlitz, 28, of Lot 571 La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara, was not required to plead to the indictable charge when it was read to him by Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court 2.
It is alleged that Pantlitz, a member of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) for the past two years, fraudulently disposed of a .38-calibre revolver that was entrusted to him by virtue of his employment.
He allegedly committed the offence between March 25th and March 29th, at the Orinduik Police Station, North Pakaraimas.
Attorney Jerome Khan, who represented Pantlitz, told the court that prior to being a member of the GPF, his client served the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) for five years with an unblemished record. Khan explained that based on the information he received his client along with four other police officers were stationed at the Orinduik Police Station at the time the alleged offence was committed and he questioned why he was the only person charged.
Khan further stated that Pantlitz cooperated fully with the police and is not a flight risk.
Prosecutor Deniro Jones objected to bail and pointed out that no special reason was provided to the court. He said the firearm was handed over to the accused in the presence of another police rank.
But Khan continued to plead with the court to grant bail and he said the next court sitting for the Lethem Magistrate’s Court is until September 7th and if Pantlitz should be on remand until them he will spend almost two months in prison.
However, the magistrate nevertheless upheld the prosecution’s objection and bail was refused. The matter was transferred to the Lethem Magistrate’s Court for September 7.
