March 5 trial for Swiss House’s Razac, Lynch

The trial of Swiss House Cambio boss Farouk Razac and his wife Carolan Lynch, who were charged with allegedly having a gun and ammunition at their home is set for March 5.

Razac and Lynch will appear before Magistrate Gordon Gilhuys at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court. Statements were yesterday presented by the police who are ready to proceed with the trial almost two months after they were charged. Four witnesses are expected to be called and the trial is expected to continue on March 8 and conclude on March 9.

On December 15 when the couple appeared before Magistrate Gilhuys the charges were substituted by summary ones after Police Prosecutor Deneashwar Nauth, acting on instructions from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, asked that the charges proceed summarily against them. The charges were then re-read to them and they pleaded not guilty. The couple was first indicted and was not required to plead. A person found guilty of a firearm offence on an indictable charge faces a jail term of not less than seven years while taken summarily a conviction could result in a sentence of not less than one year and not more than three years imprisonment.

It is alleged that on November 10 at Ireng Avenue, Bel Air Park, Razac and Lynch had in their possession 120 9mm rounds of ammunition, one Beretta automatic pistol and four 9mm magazines, being components and parts of a firearm, without lawful authority.

When Razac first appeared to answer to the charges at Court 2, Magistrate Gilhuys granted bail in the sum of $1M. Lynch, who appeared one day later before Magistrate Melissa Robertson-Ogle, was refused bail but was later granted $500,000 bail in the High Court the following day.

On November 10 the police had conducted early morning raids on a number of locations in Georgetown, resulting in the discovery of a quantity of arms, ammunition and other items. Articles were found in Rhonda Gomes’ North Ruimveldt home and she was subsequently arrested. Police then swooped on Razac’s residence where he and Lynch were arrested.