Man remanded for illegal gun, ammo in crotch

A 51-year-old miner of Barakat Landing, Cuyuni River in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) was brought before the court of Magistrate Judy Latchman on Wednesday afternoon, to answer to charges of illegal possession of firearm and ammunition.
It is alleged that Larry Benjamin, on May 29, 2017 at Barakat Landing, was in possession of a .32 pistol and matching ammunition, while he was not the holder of a firearm licence.
Benjamin’s lawyer contended that the weapon was found in a boat (which the accused was unloading at the time) after he summoned the Puruni Police following a threat made by someone he only knew as “Tattoo Man”. The lawyer related that a rank then told his client that a gun was found in the boat and Benjamin denied having any knowledge of the weapon, as did the other persons in the vicinity. The man was then allegedly arrested and taken to the Puruni Police Station. He was then transferred to Bartica, and subsequently to Georgetown where he was charged with the offence.
However, the prosecution said the facts presented by the defence counsel were in total contradiction to those gathered by the Police. The prosecution contended that Police on marine patrol stopped and searched the said boat, including all the persons on board the vessel, and the weapon was discovered in the defendant’s “pants crotch”.
Benjamin pleaded not guilty to the charges and was remanded to prison after bail was refused by the Magistrate. He returns to court on Thursday before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan for assignment.