Police Constable Cornell Paul of Lot 2434 Tuschen Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo was on Monday arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on a simple larceny charge alleging that on February 3, 2018, he stole a .38 special revolver valued at $165,000; a special revolver holster valued at $60,000, and six rounds of .38 ammunition valued at $40,750; all to a total value of $275,750, the property of the Guyana Police Force.
The 21-year-old, who is attached to the Brickdam Police Station’s Impact Base,
Police Constable Cornell Paul leaving court on Monday
denied the charge; and in a bail application, his legal counsel, Attorney-at-law Paul Fung-A-Fat, said his client, who was the driver of the Impact Base vehicle on February 3, 2018, had gone to the vehicle which was parked in the compound of the Brickdam Police Station, but had reportedly forgotten the keys to the vehicle at his desk. He allegedly left the firearm on the vehicle and went back to the office to uplift the keys; and on returning, he noticed that the firearm was missing.
Fung-A-Fat said his client then went to the officer in charge at the time and informed her of what had transpired. The lawyer added that his client never left the station compound after reporting the loss of the firearm; and neither the gun, holster, or any of the missing rounds was ever found.
Police prosecutor Neville Jeffers had no objection to Paul being placed on bail, and same was set at $150,000. As a condition for bail, Paul was ordered to report to the Brickdam Police Station on a weekly basis until completion of the matter.
The Chief Magistrate had placed Paul on $200,000 bail, but he informed the court that he could not accumulate that sum, thus the bail was reduced to $150,000. The case will continue on August 24.
