David Phillips, a 53-year-old gold miner of Fitzburg, Port Kaituma, Region One (Barima-Waini), has been remanded to prison following his arraignment before Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh on charges of being in unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.
The gun and ammunition that were found in Phillips’s possession
He appeared via Zoom from the Port Kaituma Police Station on Wednesday and pleaded not guilty to the charges. The case has been adjourned to November 6.
Phillips was arrested last Friday in an operation conducted by the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) of the Guyana Police Force at Five-Stage Backdam in the North West District. He was stopped by police while driving a Hilux pick-up which had two other miners. Acting on intelligence, officers searched the vehicle and discovered a 9mm pistol, a magazine, and six live rounds of ammunition inside a pink and grey haversack that Phillips identified as his.
When questioned, Phillips allegedly admitted that he did not have a firearm licence, and said he carried the gun for personal protection due to the remote and dangerous nature of the backdam. Police also noted that the firearm’s serial number and manufacturer’s mark had been filed off. (G9)
