GDF Lance Corporal and three others remanded to prison over illegal weapons bust

None of the accused accepted knowledge of the illegal weapons and ammunition and they all entered not guilty pleas when the charges were read to them by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

GDF Lance Corporal and three others remanded to prison over illegal weapons bust

A 27 -year-old Guyana Defence Force Lance Corporal and three other men were on Tuesday slapped with illegal possession of firearm and ammunition charges, even as police investigators are hoping that the arrest would lead them to crack other robbery related cases.

None of the accused accepted knowledge of the illegal weapons and ammunition and they all entered not guilty pleas when the charges were read to them by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

The Court heard that GDF Lance Corporal, Aaron Eastman, of Grove Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara was driving a car along Robb Street on Saturday last with 22-year-old Mark Anthony and 25-year-old Andrew Davis, both of West Ruimveldt, along with Ryan Prescott, when they were intercepted by police.

One .32 revolver with matching rounds was found under the front passenger seat and a 12 gauge shotgun with matching cartridges was found under the driver’s seat.

The prosecutor claimed that the police was responding to reports by citizens who noticed the men in the car acting suspiciously.

When the men were arrested, they denied knowledge of the items.

Of the four men, only Andrew Davis is known for criminal activity. He recently served a five year sentence for robbery under arms.

The Prosecutor also claimed that he has been positively identified in three other recent robberies.

Eastman is said to have given more than 10 years of service to the GDF. All the accused have children below the age of five.

They were all represented in Court with the exception for Anthony who claimed that he was not even a passenger in the car.

The Attorneys for the others pointed out that finger print testing was not done to link their clients to the weapons.

Despite applications for bail, Magistrate McLennan denied the pre trial liberty and remanded the men to prison until January 6, 2016.

‘A’ Division Commander Clifton Hicken said police investigators are likely to bring other charges against the men as investigations in other robbery related matters continue.

It is alleged that the group usually rent taxis from a city rental service and may have perpetuated similar crimes in the past.

Hicken said this arrest and prosecution, involving a GDF soldier, goes to show that the Police Force continues to be transparent and no one is above the law.

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