4 denied bail on gun, ammo charges

Five persons appeared before a Port-of-Spain magistrate yesterday charged with several offences following a police exercise in the Diego Martin area on Thursday. Among the five arrested are a father and his two sons, their aunt and a male friend. Kalik Mohammed, 47, of Sunset Drive, Bagatelle Diego Martin, stood before Magistrate Christine Charles in the city’s Ninth Court where he was called on to answer four charges. The charge read that Mohammed was found to be in possession of a large quantity of marijuana, possession of a firearm, nine rounds of 9mm ammunition, and six rounds of .38 ammunition.

Jointly charged for the same offences are Mohammed’s two sons, 24-year-old Ishmael and 21-year-old Tashmeel Mohammed. Family friend, Randy Phillip, 26, was also held in the raid. All four men pleaded not guilty to the charges. The men were held at the Mohammed’s residence and charged by PC Richardson Samuel of the West End Police Station. Also arrested during the raid at Mohammed’s residence was Mohammed’s aunt, Sylvia Ramjatsingh. Ramjatsingh of Singh Trace Circular, Diego Martin, was slapped with five charges after the court heard she attempted to obstruct police officers from carrying out their duties.

Charges against Ramjatsingh stated that on the same day, she allegedly assaulted a police officer, escaped lawful custody, used obscene language to the annoyance of others, resisted arrest and obstructed a police officer in the execution of his duties, namely, the arrests of the other four persons. Ramjatsingh pleaded not guilty to the five charges brought against her by PC Dexter Telesford of the West End Police Station. Representing the four men was attorney Maillard Howell, who applied for bail on his client’s behalf. Howell told the magistrate that Kalik Mohammed is a straightener whose sons work for him.

“They don’t have any other matters before the courts, nor do they have any convictions.” Attorney Nathaniel King, who represented Ramjatsingh, also applied for bail on his client’s behalf. However, the police prosecutor objected to bail, saying the accused persons had not yet been traced, and also noted the prevalence of the offences. Bail was eventually granted to Ramjatsingh in the sum of $50,000 subject to tracing, while the four other persons were denied bail. All five accused will reappear in court on Monday.