A member of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coastguard was yesterday granted bail after being charged with illegal possession of over 80 rounds of ammunition.
Kevin Valladares, 19, pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on July 20, at Mackenzie, Linden, he had in his possession 50 live rounds of 9 mm ammunition and 32 live rounds of 7 x .32 of ammunition, without being the holder of a valid firearm licence.
According to the facts presented in court, Valladares had stolen the ammunition after a firing exercise in which he was involved was cancelled as a result of rainfall. The prosecution added that after stealing the ammunition, he solicited sales.
A sting operation was reportedly set up by the GDF and a Lindener was caught attempting to sell the ammution to a GDF major.
Meanwhile, Valladares’s lawyer, Clive Ford explained that based on advice from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the GDF took administrative action against Valladares, resulting in in him serving 90 days incarceration at Camp Ayanganna and an additional 42 days detention by the Coastguard, before making his appearance in the magistrate’s court.
Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan granted bail in the sum of $75,000.
He is expected to make his next court appearance at the Linden Magistrate’s Court on November 17.
