Cop charged, denied bail over smuggled AK-47, ammo
Police Corporal Shavon Marks, who allegedly aided in the smuggling of an AK-47 rifle out of the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) Compound, at Eve Leary, was yesterday read charges of illegal firearm and ammunition possession.
Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan read the charges to Marks, who was arraigned in a Georgetown court. It was alleged that on February 28, at Kingston, Georgetown, he had in his possession an AK-47 rifle and 40 7.62x39 live rounds without being the holder of a firearm licence at the time.
Marks, who has been a member of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) for 17 years, denied both charges.
Police Prosecutor Deniro Jones told the court that the police received information that Marks desired to sell the firearm. He said it was as a result of this information that a sting operation was set up. During the operation, Jones related, ranks observed Marks handing over the weapon to an individual who then placed it into a vehicle and left the TSU compound. The vehicle, he added, was intercepted and brought back to the police compound. As a result, Marks was later arrested.
But Marks’ attorney, Senior Counsel Bernard De Santos, emphasised that the firearm was never found in the possession of his client.
During the investigation, Marks was alleged to have reported sick and then left for Berbice, with no indication of when he would return.
De Santos told the court that his client, when under close arrest, needed medical attention and it was recommended by the doctor that he proceed on sick leave. This, according to the attorney, is what Marks did.
The prosecutor objected to bail being granted since no special reasons were given by De Santos.
Chief Magistrate McLennan subsequently remanded Marks and adjourned the matter to March 22.
Five members of the Guyana Police Force, including an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), were placed under close arrest after it was alleged that they had smuggled the high-powered rifle out of the TSU compound.
Three of them were subsequently allowed to go about their daily lives under open arrest, while the two others, including Marks, remained under close arrest with police supervision.
This newspaper was reliably informed that acting on information received, the police conducted the sting operation and intercepted the car used to smuggle the weapon out of the TSU compound. The car was intercepted at Carmichael Street and during a search, the high-powered rifle was discovered.
The driver was promptly searched and taken into custody. During questioning, he reportedly implicated Marks and the ASP.
Records on the driver’s phone revealed that during the time the car entered and left the TSU compound, several calls were made to Marks.
It is alleged that the ASP colluded with the corporal to sell the weapon.