A shopkeeper, whom police said had an illegal gun in the crotch of his pants, was today remanded to prison.
Twenty-seven-year-old Colwin Marques of 23 East La Penitence, Georgetown appeared before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly and was slapped with two charges.
The first charge stated that on June 12, 2019, at Freeman Street, East La Penitence, he had in his possession eight live rounds of .32 ammunition when he was not the holder of a firearm licence.
It was further alleged that on the same day and at the same location, Marques had in his possession one Taurus .32 pistol when he was not a licensed firearm holder at the time.
Marques pleaded not guilty to both charges after they were read to him in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
Attorney-at-law George Thomas, in an attempt to secure bail for his client, told the court that on June 12 Marques and another individual were having a conversation in the front of his yard when police arrested them.
The lawyer added that the other individual was later released from custody while his client was slapped with the firearm-related charges.
The lawyer asked the court to grant Marques bail on the grounds that he is not a flight risk and will return to court for the trial.
However, facts presented by Police Prosecutor Sanj Singh stated that on the day in question, police acting on information went to 23 East La Penitence, Georgetown where they met with the defendant.
A search was then carried out on his possession and the illegal gun with the matching rounds were found in the crotch of his pants. He was then arrested and taken into custody and was later charged with the offences.
Prosecutor Singh objected to bail being granted to Marques on the grounds of the serious nature and the prevalence of the offences.
Magistrate Daly, after listening to the facts, remanded the defendant to prison until July 19.
