BRAZILIAN nationals Joan Dos Santos Oliverra and Mauro Rocha De Andrade (no addresses given), facing charges of unlawful possession of firearm and ammunition, were both ordered to lodge $600,000 each by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on Monday 10.The duo pleaded not guilty to the offences, particulars of which said, on February 5 at Lethem, Rupununi, they had one .38 revolver with six matching .38 ammunition, without being holders of firearm licences.
Police Inspector Michael Grant, prosecuting, said the men are friends and, that day, they were going to refuel the vehicle which they borrowed from a business partner when ranks, acting on information in search for Paulo Silva, stopped the defendants and found the gun and ammo in the bonnet.
The prosecutor objected to pre-trial freedom for the men but the objection was overruled after their attorney-at-law, Mr. Peter Hugh advanced, as a special reason that the vehicle was borrowed from a friend.
They have to report to Inspector Alexander every Friday, until March 3.