SEEKUMAR Rambarran of Grant 805 Crabwood Creek, Corentyne, Berbice, a retired GuySuCo pest controller who is now a shopkeeper, appeared yesterday before city magistrate Ann McLennan to answer to four charges involving firearms, ammunition and drug trafficking.He denied all the charges, but was remanded to October 5, when he will appear before the Springlands’ magistrate.

One of the charges detailed that on Friday, September 18, at Crabwood Creek Corentyne, he had in his possession one Browning 12-gauge shotgun when he was not a licensed firearm holder.

The second charge detailed that on the same day, at Crabwood Creek, he had in his possession 51 live rounds of 12-gauge ammunition when he was not the holder of a firearm licence.

The third charge detailed that on the same day, at Crabwood Creek, he had in his possession 26 grammes of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

The fourth charge is that, on the same day and time, he had in his possession 36 grammes of cannabis-sativa (marijuana) for the purpose of trafficking.

Rambarran’a attorney, Mr. James Bond, told the court that his client has been married for the past 20 years, and has two children. He contended that Rambarran has a serious heart complication which was caused by his exposure to various pest control chemicals, and he claimed that his client had no knowledge, custody or control of the items allegedly found by the police.

Bond contended that the items were found in an empty lot in bushes far removed –- at least 200 feet — from Rambarran’s residence and person, and he urged the police to be truthful in the matter.

He noted that both the defendant and his wife had been dragged to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters at Eve Leary because of the matter, and he questioned why only the husband was charged, and not the wife as well.

Bond noted, “If they cannot impute custody against the wife, they cannot impute custody against Rambarran.

Bond also asserted that his client did not give oral or written confession to the crime.

Police prosecutor Deniro Jones, however, opposed bail being granted to Rambarran on ground that CID ranks from headquarters were conducting a surveillance sting operation on Rambarran for two weeks. On the day in question, the ranks noticed the defendant throwing small containers in an adjacent yard, and he was arrested. Further search was carried out, and the illegal weapon was found in his garden.

The prosecutor also alleged that the defendant had offered the police $1M in bribe, and he said the defendant is expected to be charged soon for that offence.

After considering the arguments made by the prosecution and defence, Magistrate McLennan found there was no special reason for bail to be granted the defendant.
(Geeta Rampersaud)