Charges were read yesterday to two of the four men who were held in the city last Friday with a gun and matching ammunition in one of the two vehicles in which they were travelling.
Jamie Marks, 27, and Mark Griffith, 19, were read separate firearm and ammunition charges, while Marks was also accused of fraudulent imitation of licence plate markings.
The first charge, which was read by city magistrate Judy Latchman, stated that on May 19, at Georgetown, both Marks and Griffith had a 9mm pistol, without being a licensed firearm holder.
It was also alleged that on the very date at Duncan Street, they had nine live 9 mm rounds of ammunition, without being licensed firearm holders.
Both Marks and Griffiths denied the charges leveled against them.
Marks, a taxi driver, was then read a third charge which stated that on May 19, at Duncan Street, he fraudulently had identification mark PNN 1154 over PVV 3532.
He denied the charge as well.
According to police prosecutor Shawn Gonsalves, Griffith is currently facing a robbery charge in a Berbice court and allegedly committed the new offences while on bail.
The prosecutor objected to bail being granted to either defendant for the firearm and ammunition charges as he noted the seriousness of the offences and their prevalence.
Marks’ attorney, however, told the court that on the day in question the defendant picked up two persons at ‘C’ Field, Sophia. The attorney related that while taking the individuals to their destination, the vehicle he was in was stopped and searched by the police. During the search, a bag was found. The vehicle, according to the attorney, is not registered in his client’s name nor is it kept at his home.
Although Magistrate Latchman later granted Marks $100,000 bail on the charge over the licence plate, she remanded both him and Griffith on the firearm and ammunition charges.
The defendants are expected to make their next court appearance on June 12.
