Bartica resident Joel Joseph, 22, was yesterday sentenced to a four-year prison term after he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of an AK-47 assault rifle, which he said he was planning to use to commit robberies.
Joseph was also sentenced to four years each on counts of unlawful possession of ammunition and conspiracy to commit a felony.
However, the sentences, handed down by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, will run concurrently.
Police had said that 11 men were arrested on Tuesday after a search of a truck they were travelling in at Buckhall turned up an AK-47 rifle with 12 rounds.
However, only Joseph and co-accused Andrew McDonald, 28, of 11 and 12 Triumph, East Coast Demerara were arraigned on charges as a result of the find yesterday. McDonald pleaded not guilty to the charges after they were read to him and Joseph.
It was alleged that between April 15 and April 16, at Buckhall, they had in their possession an AK-47 rifle without being the owners of a firearm licence in force at the time. It was also alleged that on the same day, at the same location, the duo had in their possession 12 live 7.62 x 39mm rounds. It was further alleged that they conspired with a person or persons unknown to commit a felony, that is, armed robbery.
According to Police Prosecutor Seon Blackman, on the night of April 16, ranks of Guyana Police Force were on duty at the 70km Police Outpost along the Buckhall Trail, when they stopped a truck, PRR 1317, and conducted a search.
Blackman noted that the search uncovered the weapon and ammunition in a bag belonging to McDonald. At the time of the discovery, he said, the bag was in the possession of Joseph, who knows McDonald.
As a result of the find, all the occupants in the vehicle, including the defendants, were arrested. Later, Blackman added, McDonald admitted of being in possession of the firearm and ammunition and Joseph also admitted to having knowledge about them.
Further investigations subsequently revealed the defendants were planning to commit robberies at mining camps in the interior, Blackman said.
Joseph, who spoke very softly from the prisoners’ docks, told the court that he found the gun and the ammunition and that everyone else on the bus was innocent. He also said that he was planning to commit robberies with the weapon.
McDonald, meanwhile, stated that he was previously charged for murder but the case was dismissed. He asked the magistrate that he be placed on bail since he had daughters to take care of because their mother is currently overseas.
Blackman objected to bail, noting the nature and seriousness of McDonald’s alleged crimes and the punishment it attracts. He said that he was afraid that if McDonald was released on bail, he might not return to court to stand trial. Blackman also noted that there was a conspiracy to commit an unlawful act.
As a result of seriousness of the offence, the magistrate refused to grant McDonald bail and remanded him to prison until April 24, when the case will be called at the Wakenaam Magistrate’s Court.
