A Bartica resident was remanded to prison on Monday on charges of unlawful possession of a pistol and ammunition that police say were found in his bag.
The charges against Ravi Ghani, 25, are that on March 16, at Mazaruni River, he had in his possession a .32 pistol and two .32 live rounds, while not being a holder of a firearm licence.
Ghani pleaded not guilty to both of the charges after they were read to him by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in Georgetown.
Attorney Latchmie Rahamat, who represented Ghani, told the court that her client should be granted bail since the firearm and ammunition were not found in his possession. She contended that they were found lying at the work site where her client and five other persons were present. As a result, she said Ghani and the others were arrested but only he was charged.
Rahamat pleaded with the court for bail, while emphasising that Ghani was not a flight risk and was also the sole bread winner for his family. Police Prosecutor Arvin Moore objected to bail, while citing the seriousness and the prevalence of the offence. Moore disputed Rahamat’s account of the discovery. He related that Ghani was stopped by the police and a search was conducted on his person. The accused, who had a black haversack at the time, handed it over to the police, who then discovered the gun and the ammunition. After hearing arguments from both the prosecution and defence, the Chief Magistrate denied bail and remanded Ghani to prison until March 31, when a hearing is slated for the Bartica Magistrate’s Court.
Police, in a statement, had said that ranks, acting on information, went to Honey Camp Backdam, Middle Mazaruni and conducted a search on a Mongrippa Hill, Bartica resident last Thursday and made the discovery.
