Fugitive Linden boatman remanded on ammo charge

A Linden boatman, who was caught with illegal ammunition while being on the run from the police for another offence, was on Friday remanded to prison when he appeared before the Chief Magistrate.

Elvin Matthews, of Koker Street, Linden, pleaded not guilty when the charge of illegal possession of ammunition was read to him in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court One. It was alleged that Matthews, on May 8, at Burnham Drive, Linden, had in his possession a 16-gauge cartridge without being the holder of a firearms licence.

According to Prosecutor Michael Grant, the police had received information that Matthews, who was wanted for an offence committed under the Sexual Offences Act, had been in the Burnham Drive area.

Elvin Matthews
Elvin Matthews

He was caught and arrested and a search was conducted on his person. The search, Grant concluded, revealed the cartridge hidden within the man’s left side pants pocket.

Prosecutor Grant objected to bail, noting that the boat driver had raised no special circumstances for the consideration of bail.

Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry subsequently remanded Matthews before transferring the matter to the Christiansburg Magis-trate’s Court, where it will be called May 20.