TWENTY-seven-year-old Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Lance Corporal Aaron Eastman of Lot 148 Grove Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara appeared yesterday before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, along with co-accused Mark Anthony, 22, of Lot 1238 Canje Pheasant Place, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown and Upholster Andrew Davis Escort and 37-year-old carpenter Ryan Escort, of Lot 155 Middle Road La Penitence, Georgetown, to answer two charges.The first charge alleges that on Saturday, December 5, at Robb Street, Georgetown, they had seven rounds of ammunition in their possession when none of them was the holder of a firearm licence.

The second charge alleges that on the same day, at Robb Street, the four men had two firearms when they were not licensed firearm holders. The men all pleaded not guilty to the charges
Eastman was represented by Attorney-at-law Mark Waldron, who told the court that his client is married, has two children, and has been a serving member of the Guyana Defence Force for the past 10 years.
The lawyer said his client has no knowledge of the illegal weapons, and that Eastman was the driver of the vehicle but the guns and ammunition were allegedly found in the rear of the vehicle.
Andrew Davis Escort was represented by Attorney-at-Law Adrian Thompson, who maintained that his client does not have any knowledge of the alleged weapons, and was just a passenger in the vehicle.
Ryan Escort was represented by Attorney-at-Law Peter Hugh, who informed the court that his client has no pending matter before the court, but previously served a sentence on a robbery-under-arms charge.
Anthony, however, was unrepresented by legal counsel. He told the court that he never admitted to being in the vehicle with the other persons. He said that Police had beaten the other defendants to say that he was with them.
The Police Prosecutor Corporal Deniro Jones told the court that citizens saw the four men in the vehicle and summoned the Police. Jones said all the men were acting suspiciously, and Eastman was, at the time, wearing a black hoody.
He said that Police conducted a search and found the unlicensed weapons under the front passenger seat of the vehicle. Moreover, the court heard that Andrew Escort was positively identified.
The quadrant was remanded to prison and the matter was transferred before Magistrate Judy Latchman for January 6.
Lance Corporal Aaron Eastman and the three other men were moving around in a car that is reportedly owned by a businessman when they were arrested on Saturday. During that arrest, the Police managed to recover a sawn-off shotgun and a revolver with matching ammunition. At time of the arrest, the soldier was illegally absent from work, having abandoned his post, and was driving around with suspicious characters.

The GDF rank was, also at the time, wearing an overcoat over his uniform, and was driving the car with a shotgun under the seat. The other weapon was found under the other front passenger seat.
The Chief-of Staff of the GDF has indicated to this publication that the incident was very embarrassing to the army, and to all other persons serving in law enforcement. He has since assured that the rank will be treated like any other suspect, and there will be no preferential treatment meted out to the rank during the investigation.
Eastman was enlisted in the GPF on April 10, 2006.
The Police have been able to link at least one of the suspects in the car at the time to the AH&L Kissoon robbery, which took place on Friday. The Police conducted an identification parade on Monday, and the man was positively identified.

By Clestine Juan