Stephen Rajah, 33, broke down in tears after appearing virtually before the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, as he pleaded for bail after being charged in connection with the discovery of ten AK-47 rifles in Region Six last week.
Rajah, of Back Street, Goed Fortuin Village, West Bank Demerara, was not required to plead to the indictable charge of possession of a firearm and was remanded to prison until 15 June.
During the hearing, Rajah pleaded with the magistrate for a chance to return home, telling the court he had never previously experienced incarceration and was struggling to cope with the conditions in prison.
“I have never been in lock-up before or under these pressures,” Rajah told the court, while assuring the magistrate that he would comply with any conditions attached to bail.
“I am begging for my release to go and get some sleep because I’ve been tormented in prison. The prison is nasty, the environment… these few days I haven’t slept, and I’m begging you to pardon me,” he said.
Rajah further told the court that he had cooperated fully with investigators.
“I am being honest about this whole situation. I explained everything to the police. I am trying to speak the truth because that’s what the system says — the truth can set you free,” he added, before becoming emotional.
At one point, the accused reportedly burst into tears and told the court he had “fallen into the situation” through peer pressure while working as a taxi driver.
Special prosecutor and attorney-at-law Aartie Khoblall, who appeared for the prosecution, told the court that Rajah allegedly acted together with others and that the guns had been shipped to Guyana.
When questioned by the magistrate about the status of the investigation, Khoblall explained that investigators were awaiting ballistic examination results.
The magistrate noted that the investigation remained incomplete, to which the prosecutor responded that police were only awaiting the forensic report.
The magistrate later stated that she saw no reason to grant bail at this stage, taking into account the seriousness of the offence, the penalty attached to the charge, and allegations that Rajah had evaded police on the day in question.
Bail was subsequently refused and Rajah was remanded to prison until June 15.
The charge stems from the discovery of ten AK-47 rifles during a police operation carried out last Friday in Region Six.
Police said ranks conducting a stop-and-search exercise along the Berbice River Bridge Access Road between 1:00 am and 4:30 am intercepted a black Toyota Fielder wagon bearing registration number HC 9018. Investigators alleged that the driver sped away from the scene and escaped eastward.
Acting on information received, police later searched an area along the No. 11 Village Public Road, Corentyne, where the ten guns were allegedly discovered wrapped in plastic and cloth.
Investigators said the weapons bore markings consistent with 7.62 x 39 millimetre rifles, while sections of the firearms appeared tampered with, leading police to suspect attempts were made to obscure serial numbers.
Police later identified Rajah as the alleged driver of the vehicle and subsequently arrested him at Nabaclis, East Coast Demerara, while he was reportedly driving the same car.
Investigators also recovered a white Toyota Runx at Savannah Park, New Amsterdam, which they suspect may have been used in transporting the weapons.
The firearms have since been lodged at the Central Police Station as investigations continue.
