…on $l00,000 bail, to return to jurisdiction for trial
CORPORAL Isaac Dil Mohamed of the US Marine Corps, who is to be posted to Afghanistan shortly, landed in an ammunition charge at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport at Timehri from where he was taken into custody for trial in late October.

But his wife, Neswate Dil Mohamed, secured the services of lawyer James Patterson, a former High Court Judge, and filed a petition for the bail of her husband who was said to be found with a ‘key holder bullet’.

After spending two days in custody, the Acting Chief Justice who heard the petition, granted bail in the sum of $100,000.

The accused was also granted permission to leave the jurisdiction and to return to Guyana in time for the trial on October 10, 2010.

The wife who filed the petition for bail of her husband Isaac Dil Mohamed  of 98 Washington Street, Hartford, Connecticut, Zip Code 26106, United States of America, and of 98  John’s Port Mourant, Corentyne, Berbice,  added that her husband was presently in custody at the Camp Street prison.

She added, “(1) The Defendant, who is  my husband, is 22 years old, and is a Corporal in the United States of America Marine Corps. That the defendant and the Petitioner were school days lovers and were recently married on the 21st day of August, 2010.
“(2)  That on the 14th day of September, 2010, he, while returning to the U.S.A. through  the Timehri International Airport, cleared Immigration and Customs and was seated in the Departure Lounge when some customs  officers approached the Defendant, took him in a room and body searched him claiming he was being searched for narcotics.
“(3) That no narcotics were found on the Defendant.  He had on his person a bunch of keys attached to a key ring which included keys to his car, wardrobe and house keys and key to his locker at work.
“(4) That the said key ring was in the formation and shape of a bullet and is commonly sold in all marine shops in the United States of America and also in Guyana by street vendors and in particular at Evil Eyes Electronic Store both in New Amsterdam, Berbice and in Georgetown.   The Defendant purchased his key ring from a Marine Store in Connecticut in the United States of America. A specimen of the type purchased in Guyana will be produced at the hearing of this petition.
“(5) That the Defendant has been advised by Counsel and does verily believe that the article seized by the police, to wit an alleged gun bullet which is in fact his key ring purchased at the aforesaid Marine store in Connecticut United States, does not contravene any of the provisions of the Fire Arms Act Ch. 16:05 and is clearly a utility item for the containment of keys.
“(6) That the defendant was taken into Custody by the Police at the Timehri Station and placed in the lockups.
“(7) That the Defendant spent the 14th and the 15th in the Timehri Lockups but on Thursday the 16th was taken to Brickdam Police Station where the Defendant was informed that he was going to be placed before the Magistrate charged with having unlicensed ammunition.
“(8) That the Defendant appeared before Her Worship the Magistrate Ms. Beharry, Chief Magistrate (act) via case Jacket No. 10659 /2010 the Defendant pleaded not Guilty, was not granted his pre trial liberty neither an early trial date as the matter was adjourned till the 19th of October.
“(9) That the defendant has never been involved in anything  criminal and frequently flies interstate passing through varying kinds  of the most security scanners at a daily basis with the said key ring being at all times on his person, on his waist.
“ (10) That the Petitioner is advised by Counsel for the Defendant that on the purported evidence to be presented by the Police, the charge against the Defendant is manifestly absurd and is likely to fail.
”(11) That the Defendant is on a tight schedule to resume training to be posted to Afghanistan for further active duty and the current charge against the Defendant which on legal advice has no basis would  jeopardize his career as a soldier in the Marine Corps of the U.S. Army.  The matter was adjourned till the 19th of October.
“(12) That your Petitioner can guarantee that on the granting of  bail and a sufficient time to manage his affairs in the  U.S.A. with the  cooperation of his Superior Officers, he will return to Guyana for a hearing of the matter.”
Following the hearing of the Petition, the Acting Chief Justice, Mr. Ian Chang, S.C., granted bail in the sum of $100,000.
The defendant was also granted permission to leave the jurisdiction and to return to the jurisdiction before the 19th of October, to appear in Court in relation to the charge.
The Order has been entered.