The son of Assistant Commissioner of Police Christopher Benjamin as well as his co-accused have been granted bail on firearm and ammunition possession charges.
Ashano Benjamin, a 26-year-old tax officer, and Kemani Gould, a 27-year-old labourer, both of Barrouallie, appeared before the Serious Offences Court on Monday where they pleaded not guilty to the charges.
They were jointly charged that between Oct. 7 and 28 at Arnos Vale, they had in their possession one .40 Smith & Wesson pistol without a license issued under the Firearms Act.
The men were further charged that between the same dates, also at Arnos Vale, they had in their possession six rounds of .40 ammunition without a license issued under the Firearms Act.
Prosecutor Inspector of Police Renick Cato did not object to bail.
He asked the court to require sufficient surety, impose reporting conditions, order that stop notices be placed at ports of entry and exit and surrender their travel documents.
Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne granted each of the men composite bail in the sum of EC$15,000 with one surety and ordered them to report to the Barrouallie Police Station on Fridays between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.
They were further ordered to surrender their travel documents and seek the permission of the court to leave the country.
Browne also ordered that stop notices be placed at ports of entry and exit.
Benjamin’s lawyer, Grant Connell, told the court that he was ready to proceed on Thursday, if disclosure is granted by Tuesday.
“We have no time to waste,” the lawyer told the court, adding that he was requesting full disclosure.
Cato said it would be difficult to effect disclosure within 48 hours, adding that there are some statements that still needed to be collected
After some discussions, which also surrounded Gould’s lawyer, Israel Bruce’s matters in another jurisdiction, the court ordered disclosure in one week and set the trial date for Nov. 27.
Cato said this date would be more practical than Nov. 21, which the court had initially settled on.
Detective Corporal Renetta Millington of the Major Crime Unit is leading the investigation.
Both accused men were able to secure a surety before the end of the sitting.