A POLICE officer was yesterday arraigned before Chief Magistrate, Priya Sewnarine-Beharry to answer two charges of illegal firearm and ammunition possession.Orin Sergeant, Police Constable 20780, who is stationed at the East La Penitence Police Station pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Particulars of the first charge alleged that on Friday, June 5, 2015 at Mahaica he had 37 rounds of 7.32×3 ammunition in his possession, when he was not the holder of a firearm licence.
It was further alleged that on the day in question at the same location, he had an AK-47 rifle in his possession without being the holder of a firearm licence.
Police Prosecutor, Corporal Bharat Mangru stated that the defendant had been under surveillance by his co-workers for some time. Mangru added that on the afore-mentioned date a road block was set up at Mahaica which resulted in a motor car being stopped. The defendant and the other occupants were asked to exit the vehicle with their belongings and they complied.
Mangru said that a search was carried out on the defendant’s bag and the articles mentioned in the charge were found. As a result, investigations were carried out and the charges were instituted. It was also noted that the firearm is not the property of the GPF.
Sergeant, who has been a serving member of the Guyana Police Force, (GPF) for over seven years, was remanded to prison until Tuesday, June 16, 2015, when he will appear at the Mahaica Magistrates’ Court.