The man who allegedly fired his cousin’s gun at the ‘626’ Bar at Good Hope, East Coast Demerara (ECD) last Friday was yesterday placed on $650,000 bail after he was read three charges at the Cove and John Magistrate’s Court.
The defendant, 33-year-old Bhaishnauth Gurpersaud, an electrician of Belle West, No.2 Canal, West Bank Demerara (WBD) appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore and pleaded not guilty to the charges of possession of a firearm and ammunition along with discharging a loaded firearm within 100 yards of the public space. Gurpersaud was granted $250,000 bail each on the possession of firearm and ammunition charges while he had to post an additional $150,000 for the offence of discharging a loaded firearm within the public space. The matters were then adjourned until March 20th when he will make his second appearance.
The police had issued a release on the matter stating that Gurpersaud was arrested last Friday at about 23:40 hrs at the bar after he allegedly discharged a loaded firearm. According to their inquiries, the accused was at the bar with his 28-year-old cousin, who is a businessman of Bel Air Village, Georgetown and who is also the licensed owner of the gun and its ammunition. As they were consuming alcohol, it was said that Gurpersaud had his cousin’s gun, a .32 Taurus pistol in his waist when he suddenly took the weapon out and fired a shot in the air.
As a result of the incident, the police were summoned to the scene and a subsequent search was conducted on several persons and the gun and 11 matching rounds of ammunition were found in his waist. The area was also searched and one .32 spent shell was recovered.
