A miner who allegedly had a 12-gauge shotgun and cartridges at a Cuyuni River location while being unlicensed was yesterday denied bail by Magistrate Hazel Octave-Hamilton in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
Navascar Truman of Grove Trench Line on March 31 at Ducari Landing, Cuyuni River, Essequibo, reportedly had in his possession a 12-gauge Convinca shotgun without being the holder of a licence. On the same day also he allegedly had in his possession matching cartridges without the requisite licence.
Truman’s attorney Trenton Lake said that his client is not a flight risk and he has a fixed place of abode at the given address. The attorney said also that his client is a miner in the interior and has had no prior convictions.
The attorney stated that on the day in question his client was being followed on his way to a hotel where he had just rented a room. Upon entering the room he was met by police who entered immediately after and found the firearm in the room. This was the first time, the attorney said, that Truman had been in occupation of the room and he had no knowledge of the firearm being there. The police then arrested him.
The man was not allowed to plead to the charges.
When his attorney made an application for bail police prosecutor Gordon Mansfield objected, stating that the facts presented by the police differed from what was offered by the attorney.
According to the prosecutor, police acting on information received found Truman in occupation of Room 12 at the hotel and upon entering the room discovered the firearm in his hand and a matching cartridge.
The police on searching further found three more cartridges in his pants pocket.
Truman has to appear in Court One on May 18.
