Lethem teen refused bail on ganja, gun charges

A Lethem teen was refused bail yesterday after he was charged with possession of marijuana along with a firearm and ammunition that police allegedly found on his property.

Ricardo Pereira Da Silva, 18, denied the charges read by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magis-trates’ Court.

The charges state that on February 17, at St Ignatius, Lethem, he had in his possession six grammes of cannabis, a .32 Taurus revolver along with two live matching rounds.

Prosecutor Michael Grant told the court that the police received information which led them to contact Pereira, who took the lawmen to his residence.

A search subsequently revealed the cannabis as well as the firearm and ammunition. Grant added that Da Silva admitted to buying the firearm and ammunition from a man from Boa Vista, Brazil.

He objected to bail based on the seriousness of the offence and the fact that special reasons should be advanced for bail to be granted.

As a result, Da Silva was remanded to prison until March 9, when he will appear at the Lethem Magistrate’s Court.