Electrician on $650,000 bail after discharging cousin’s gun in bar

Bhaishnauth Gurpersaud, the electrician of Belle West, Canal Number Two, West Bank Demerara, who was arrested by Police ranks on Friday at the ‘626 Bar’ at Good Hope, East Coast Demerara (ECD), after he allegedly discharged a loaded firearm, was slapped with three charges.

On Tuesday, the 33-year-old man appeared at the Cove and John Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Fabayo Azore, where the charges were read to him, and he pleaded not guilty to all.
The charges read were 1) possession of ammunition without a licence, Contrary to Section 16 (2)(a) of the Firearm Act, Chapter 16:05 (eleven .32 rounds of ammunition); 2) possession of a .32 Taurus without being the holder of a firearm licence; 3) discharging a loaded firearm within 100 yards of public way.
On the gun and ammunition possession charges, he was granted $250,000 bail each and for discharging the loaded firearm, he was released on $150,000. The cases were adjourned and will continue on March 20.

Police had reported that on Friday last at about 23:40h, Gurpersaud and his 28-year-old cousin, a businessman of Bel-Air Village, Georgetown, who is a licenced firearm holder of a Taurus pistol, were at the ‘626 Bar’ consuming alcohol when the electrician, who had his cousin’s firearm in his possession, took out the pistol from his waist and discharged a shot in the air.
Following the incident, the Police were alerted and responded. The firearm along with matching rounds of ammunition were found in the waist of Gurpersaud pants, Police said.
According to Police, after further enquiries, the man claimed that the firearm was given to him by a friend, whom Police later learnt was his 28-year-old cousin that was also drinking with him at the bar.
Both men were escorted to the Vigilance Police Station along with the firearm, ammunition, and spent shell. The area was combed, and one .32 spent shell was recovered. (G9)