A woman was yesterday remanded to prison after she was charged with the possession of an unlicensed pistol that police found in the presence of her and her army officer husband.
Lissette La Cruz appeared before city magistrate Ann McLennan to answer to charges of possession of a firearm without licence, possession of ammunition without a firearm licence and the possession of two grammes of cannabis.
It is alleged that on August 8, La Cruz, a shop owner residing in the Tucville squatting area, was found in possession of a .25 pistol, six .25 rounds of ammunition and two grammes of cannabis.
La Cruz pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Deniro Jones, the police prosecutor, told the court that the firearm was found in the presence of La Cruz and her spouse, a Guyana Defence Force member. There-after, a statement was given under caution by the accused to the police, he added.
No details were given by the prosecutor about the two grammes of cannabis reported to have been found in La Cruz’s possession.
La Cruz was represented by attorney Paul Fung-A-Fat, who pleaded for reasonable bail on behalf of his client. Fung-A-Fat also told the court that any caution statement given by La Cruz would have been made under duress. Furthermore, he said any statement given by his client would have been done to protect someone else as she did not own the firearm.
La Cruz was granted $20,000 bail by Magistrate Ann McLennan on the narcotics charge but was remanded to prison on the charges of firearm and ammunition possession.
Her next hearing is fixed for September 14th.
