A FORTY-five-year-old businessman held for an illegal gun and matching ammunition found in his business premises during a police search, has been remanded to prison.

Ronald Singh, of Goedverwagting, East Coast Demerara appeared Monday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court to respond to two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.
According to the police, Singh was “busted” with a .45 Colt pistol and seven matching rounds of live ammunition at his Lot 9 Goedverwagting, East Coast Demerara business place on February 6.
Appearing before the Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine Beharry, Singh pleaded not guilty to the charges and submitted an application for bail through his attorney, Sandil Kissoon.
Kissoon told the court that his client suffers from chronic kidney and heart conditions, and that he was set to commence dialysis for his bad kidney.
Police Prosecutor Inspector Michael Grant said that acting on a tip-off, a party of police ranks went to Singh’s businessplace and conducted a search in the presence of the businessman. He explained that the gun and rounds of ammunition were found in the living room.
The court heard that when the defendant was shown the items,he confessed that they belonged to him, stating that he bought it from a policeman for protection. The businessman was taken into custody and charged.
The prosecutor objected to the businessman being allowed his pre-trial liberty, citing the nature, gravity and prevalence of the offence; also, the penalty attached to the change if found guilty. He argued too that no special reasons that satisfied the court had been raised for bail.
In his bid for bail Kissoon said that his client is a father of eight, while his wife is presently eight months pregnant.
The lawyer noted that Singh is a well known auto mechanic shop owner in the East Coast area and he is also a distributor and authorised dealer in lubricants and mechanicals parts.
Singh, he said, was not present in the room when the alleged items were found, and had to be informed by an officer who called him into the said room enquiring about the alleged find.
The lawyer contended that, that same room is an open area accessible to the public and Singh’s employees.
Notwithstanding his application, bail was refused and the case was transferred to the Sparendaam Magistrates’ Court. Singh is slated to appear there next Wednesday, January 11.