TWENTY-five-year-old businessman Naipaul Basdeoram of Lot 3 Good Hope Railway Embankment, East Coast Demerara appeared yesterday before City Magistrate Ann Mc Lennan to answer to a charge alleging that an illegal gun and matching ammunition were found in his house during a police search.Police allegedly made the find in the wee hours of Wednesday, after which two counts of unlawful possession of firearm and ammunition were made out against the businessman.

According to the Police, Basdeoram was busted with a .380 pistol and 9 matching rounds of live ammunition at his residence on July 15; but Basdeoram pleaded not guilty to the charges, and submitted an application for bail through his attorney, Dexter Todd.

In his bid for bail, Todd said his client was arrested by officers and taken to Vigilance Police Station, where he was later informed that a gun and ammunition had been found in his house. The lawyer contended that the weapon was not found in possession of his client, and that there is a case of multiple occupancy of the home.

Police Prosecutor, Sergeant Neville Jeffers, said that, acting on a tip-off, a party of police ranks went to Basdeoram’s house and conducted a search in the presence of the businessman, and the gun was found in his bedroom. Basdeoram, the prosecutor said, told officers that the gun was left in his car by a friend, and he had taken it into his home for safe keeping.

Jeffers further revealed that when the alleged ‘friend’ was contacted, he denied the allegation.

The Sargent objected to the businessman being allowed his pre-trial liberty, citing the serious nature and prevalence of the offence. He argued that no special reasons had been advanced for the defendant being granted bail.

Notwithstanding Todd’s application, bail was refused, and the case was transferred to the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court, where Basdeoram is slated to appear on Friday, July 24.