THE two teenagers found with grenades, a rifle and ammunition earlier this week, were, yesterday, remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry. Kevin George, 18, of Lot 21 Costello Housing Scheme and Samuel Johnson, 17, of Lot 158 Curtis Street, Albouystown, also in Georgetown, both pleaded not guilty to three charges.
One charge said, on Wednesday, January 22, at South Ruimveldt, without lawful authority or reasonable cause, they had one special concussion and one fragmentation grenade in their possession.
Two other charges said they also had one M16 rifle and sixty-one .223 ammunition in their possession when they were not holders of firearm licences.
Police Inspector Michael Grant, prosecuting, said at 11:15 hrs that day, ranks were on patrol duty on Aubrey Barker Road when they observed the defendants acting in a suspicious manner and approached them.
He said George was seen to hand a haversack to Johnson and the latter handed it back to the former, who threw it to the ground and a subsequent search revealed the weapon and ammunition mentioned in the particulars.
The prosecutor said, at the scene, ranks enquired of the duo if they were licensed firearm holders and they responded in the negative, resulting in them being prosecuted.
The prosecutor, successfully, objected to bail, citing the gravity and prevalence of the crime and pointed out that, for the defendants to secure the grant, special circumstances must be adduced.
The objection was upheld and the case was adjourned to February 11.