The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) yesterday said that it had intensified investigations to determine who stole its AK 47 rifle which was found submerged in water at Alness, Corentyne Coast on Thursday.
The army also corrected an error in its statement clarifying that the serial number for the rifle is 410416 and not 410418 as it had said. The weapon went missing from its stores in December and was recovered during a Joint Services operation.
Two men were nabbed in what sources say was a deal to sell the weapon for $80,000. Up to press time last night they were still in police custody and army sources said that charges are likely to be laid against them. The source also said that efforts are being made to confirm how the weapon was removed from Camp Ayanganna and by whom. It is not clear whether the men have implicated any of the soldiers who the army had interrogated over the missing weapon. The loss of the AK 47 had resulted in a shake-up of the base command structure at Camp Ayanganna.
In a statement on Thursday the GDF said around 6 am, acting on information, a Joint Services team was deployed to Berbice to investigate the loss of the rifle. The statement said information confirmed that the weapon was hidden in the Adventure seaside area. Ranks, led by one of the suspects recovered the weapon at 3.30 pm at the side of a trench. It was wrapped in plastic, strapped with electrical wire and submerged in water. The weapon was lodged at the Albion Police Station.
“Investigations are continuing to determine the movement of the weapon since its disappearance, and those who facilitated its removal,” the statement said, adding that the Joint Services team was grateful to persons who provided critical information which led to its recovery.
Stabroek News had been told that an army reservist residing at Eversham on the Corentyne Coast had reportedly stolen the weapon from the army in November and together with an ex-policeman, arranged the sale of the rifle. Sources said the man who confessed to purchasing the weapon led police to a clump of bushes where it was stashed.
The man who arranged the sale is said to be a former member of the Guyana Police Force who was interdicted from duty after being charged with stealing a horse. This newspaper understands that the Joint Services picked up the man from his Alness, Corentyne home at around 9.30 am yesterday.
After he was arrested his family contacted ranks at the Whim Police Station and officers there quickly informed the Tactical Services Unit at the Albion station of what they thought was a kidnapping.
Michael Dunn, Sharth Robertson, Alvin Wilson and several soldiers were allegedly tortured by members of the Military Criminal Investigation Department over the missing rifle. The rifle was assigned to Robertson who along with Wilson is still being held by the army. Last month the military commenced court martial proceedings against Warrant Officer Torrington who was the base sergeant major at the time the rifle disappeared.
