A Crane businessman was yesterday arraigned on weapon charges after a search by police officers allegedly uncovered a revolver and matching ammunition on him.
Robert Hussain, 26, of Crane Village, West Coast Demerara, pleaded not guilty to the two charges read to him by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts yesterday.
It was alleged that on November 7, at Vreed-en-Hoop, Hussain had in his possession a .32 revolver, without being a licensed firearm holder, and seven rounds of .32 ammunition, also without a licence.
The prosecution’s case is that police, acting on information, conducted a search on minibus GKK 1892 and on Hussain, who was the lone occupant of the bus at the time and the weapon along with the ammunition was found tucked in his pants waist. Based on the facts of the discovery of the weapon, Prosecutor Bharat Mangru objected to Hussain being granted bail.
Attorney Peter Hugh, who represented Hussain, told the court that Hussain is the proprietor of Twisters Digital Audio and there was no pending charge in the court against him. He argued that the prosecution did not present enough special reasons to justify the withholding of bail. Hugh also stated that the gun was found in the driver’s seat of the minibus and not on his client’s person as was claimed in the police statement.
He also argued that Hussain is constitutionally entitled to be tried within a specified time frame and the fact that the magistrate’s court at Vreed-en-Hoop does not have a current sitting magistrate to facilitate his client’s matter in a timely manner were grounds for bail to be granted in a reasonable sum.
After considering Hugh’s arguments and perusing the case file, the Chief Magistrate set bail at $300,000 on each count.
Hussain was ordered to return to the Vreed-en-Hoop Magistrate’s Court on November 13.
