A MINER was remanded to prison on Thursday by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan following his answering a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.Dinesh Dharamdeo, 26, of Block 3, Providence, East Bank Demerara pleaded not guilty to a charge which read that on December 16, at Black Water, Cuyuni River, he was found in possession of a 9mm semi-automatic handgun without being the holder of a firearm licence.

The man also pleaded not guilty to a charge which stated that, on the same day, he was found in possession of seven live rounds of corresponding ammunition without being the holder of a firearm licence.

Police Prosecutor Kerry Boswick said that, on the day in question, ranks on mobile patrol saw the defendant approaching on an ATV. When Dharamdeo saw the police, he began to act in a suspicious manner, which caused the lawmen to stop and conduct a search of his person. The gun was found in Dharamdeo’s crotch with the ammunition in its barrel.

Defence counsel Mr. Peter Hugh, in his application for bail, said his client would have to be on a lengthy remand period if the matter were transferred to the Bartica Magistrate’s Court, because that presiding magistrate is on leave.

The prosecutor objected to bail on grounds of the seriousness and prevalence of the offence.
Dharamdeo will be spending Christmas and New Year’s Day behind bars, because the Chief Magistrate denied him bail. The matter has also been transferred before the Bartica Magistrate for January 7.