Family on $.4M bail

Grandmother Sookdaye Ramkissoon, 86; Naresh Ramkissoon, 50; Hansraj Ramkissoon, 28; Daniel Ramkissoon, 20; Althea De Frietas, 47, and Diana Mahabir, 26, all of Bristol Village, Mayaro appeared before Magistrate Rajendra Rambachan jointly charged for possession of an illegal firearm, possession of prohibited wild meat namely the carcasses of one agouti and one lappe. The charges were laid by Constable Mahadeo of the Mayaro Police Station.

The charges were read out in court by Rambachan and alleged that on June 18, a party of officers led by Sgts Suresh Ramsahai and Stanley Racha and including Cpl Navin Maharaj, PCs Mahadeo, Rampersad and Ali went to a house at Bristol Village in Mayaro where they executed a search warrant for illegal arms and ammunition.

The charges further alleged that a shotgun was found and seized and during a search of the kitchen area, the carcasses of the two protected animals were found.

After the charges were read out by the magistrate, all of the accused persons who stood side by side in the court pleaded not guilty.

Court prosecutor Sgt Ramnarine Gadar informed the court that he was not objecting to bail once the necessary background checks were done on the accused persons.

Rambachan then granted bail to Naresh Ramkissoon, Hansraj Ramkissoon, Daniel Ramkissoon, Sookdaye Ramkissoon and Althea De Frietas in the sum of $75,000 each with a surety, while Dianna Mahabir was granted $25,000 bail after the court heard she is dealing with a medical issue.

The case was later adjourned to July 20.