TWENTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD Don Fraser of Third Street, Bartica was yesterday remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan after he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court charged with illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition. Fraser pleaded not guilty to both charges, which state that on February 11, at Issano, he had in his possession one single-barrel 12-gauge shotgun and two rounds of ammunition.

The defendant’s lawyer, in her submission for bail, stated that the police went to Fraser’s camp and conducted a search and they did not find any illegal firearm on his person or on the camp grounds.
She went on to mention that her client is licensed to carry a firearm (but she did not state what kind of firearm he is permitted to carry).
The police continued to search the surrounding area in the presence of Fraser, and a gun was found on a trail and not on the camp site or his person. He denied any knowledge of the firearm and ammo that was found. The police went on to confiscate his firearm and his licence.
The facts of the matter presented by Police Prosecutor Deniro Jones stated that, on the day in question, the police received information and, acting on the information, they conducted a search on Fraser’s camp and his person and they found nothing.
They continued to search the area near the camp site, and they found a gun between bushes and rotten pieces of wood.
He was cautioned, and he admitted owning the firearm.

Prosecutor Jones stated that no special reason for bail was presented, and he was objecting to bail. Based on the facts stated, Magistrate McLennan refused to grant bail, and Fraser was remanded.
The matter was adjourned until February 25, and transferred to Bartica Magistrate’s Court.(Sheah Alleyne)