Two soldiers likely to turn state’s evidence
Stabroek News
August 22, 2002
Two soldiers embroiled in the theft and sale of high-powered arms from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) are likely to turn state’s evidence and testify against two of their colleagues and the three other persons implicated in the matter.
Stabroek News understands that this was the word from the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) yesterday.
Sources say the army has not yet decided whether to court martial the four ranks who are still in its custody or to hand them over to the police to be charged.
Also it is not yet clear whether the ranks who are cooperating with the state will be given immunity or reduced sentences.
The soldiers were arrested three weeks ago over the sale and attempted sale of four weapons, including two M70 rifles and two AK-47 assault rifles and magazines. One AK-47 and an M70 rifle are still missing.
Since the investigation by the army and police started, five people, including two foreigners, were arrested and charged. (See other story on page 10.)
The army launched a probe earlier this month after an AK-47 was found in a black plastic bag under a bed at the Ruimveldt Coast Guard base in Georgetown. Sub-sequent checks in the arms room revealed that another AK-47 and two M70 rifles were missing, sources told this newspaper.
Stabroek News understands that one of the two missing M70s was found in the possession of one of the soldiers.
After further investigations, the other three soldiers were implicated. One of the soldiers, said to be the mastermind, reportedly organised the sales and recruited the other ranks to pilfer the rifles.
Sources said one of them admitted to stealing the missing AK-47 in late July while he and others were transporting the weapon from an operation at Cove and John on the East Coast Demerara, to a Coast Guard base at Annandale. That weapon was discovered missing a day after the move.
Later, a full magazine for one of the weapons vanished from the arms store and was found in a cupboard.
During the recent crime spree that has taken the country by storm, criminals have been using high-powered weapons, including AK-47s and M70s.
There have been suggestions from some quarters that the weapons being used in some of these criminal activities were from security sources.