North West man on $150,000 bail for 4 gun-related charges

A North West man was on Wednesday granted bail in the sum of $150,000 when he appeared before Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh at the Port Kaituma Magistrate’s Court to answer to five charges.
Twenty-nine-year-old Orangel Antonio Castro Rodrigues of Triangle Backdam, Baramita, North West District, Region One (Barima-Waini) was charged with two counts of being in possession of a firearm without being the holder of a firearm licence, and two counts of being in possession of ammunition.
He faces an additional charge of assault causing actual bodily harm.
It is alleged that on February 27, 2025, at Triangle Backdam Baramita, North West District, he had in his possession a 12-gauge shotgun serial # AV60664E – without being the holder of a firearm license in force at that time. Rodrigues is also alleged to have in his possession at the time a 16-gauge shotgun, serial # 10-05. Apart from the two firearms, the labourer is accused of having in his possession three 16-gauge live ammunition and one 12-gauge live ammunition without being the holder of a firearm license in force at that time.
Rodrigues has additionally been charged with unlawfully assaulting Yulismar Rodrigues so as to cause her
actual bodily harm on February 27, 2025 at the same location.
He pleaded not guilty to all the charges, and the prosecutor told the court that the prosecution is not ready to commence the trial, since the investigation was incomplete. Meanwhile the court not asked not to grant bail to the accused, noting the nature and gravity of the offence.
However, Attorney-at-law Bernard D Silva, who represented the accused, made an application for the court to grant bail to the accused.
While noting the nature of the investigation and the frequency with which the court sits, the attorney argued that the refusal of pretrial liberty would more than likely create unnecessary and prolonged delays.
“There is no certainty of a near trial date,” he told the court, adding that Rodrigues is not a flight risk and has a family here, which include three children and a wife.
The magistrate upheld the appeal and granted bail to the accused in the form of $150,000.
However, as one of the conditions attached to his bail, Rodrigues would have to report to the Baramita police station on the last Friday of every month.
The matter has been adjourned until June 10, when the police would be expected to give a report on their readiness.