Recently-crowned Mrs South America, Carolan Lynch was yesterday refused bail at the Georgetown Magistrate's Court when she appeared before Magistrate Melissa Robertson-Ogle to answer firearm and ammo charges.
Lynch took ill after being taken into custody on Thursday and was a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital up until she was brought to court yesterday.
Lynch, a 33-year-old mother of one who told the court that she is a model and resides at 106 Ireng Place, Bel Air Park, was not required to plead to the charges. It is alleged that on November 10 at Bel Air, Georgetown, she had in her possession 120 9mm rounds of ammunition, one Beretta automatic pistol and four 9 mm magazines, being components and parts of a firearm without lawful authority.
Representing Lynch was attorney-at-law Nigel Hughes who told the court in his bail application that his client had never been charged for anything before and she is one of Guyana's foremost models. The attorney said further that she was not a flight risk and he noted that her co-accused who is her husband was granted bail the day before. He said, too, that she was hospitalized soon after being taken into custody and has not been fully discharged. "She had acute gastronomic problems which caused her to puke repeatedly," he told the magistrate.
Hughes stated further that the weapon that was found, he had come to learn, was hidden in a part of the premises and the US$315,000 taken by the police had still not been returned. The counsel stated that because the charges were filed indictably her trial was not likely to start soon and he requested bail.
Police prosecutor Robert Clements objected to bail saying that there has been an upsurge of ammunition being used in society. He stated that Lynch was found in her house and as her counsel had indicated she is a model so at any given opportunity she could receive a call and leave to continue her profession. He added also that Lynch had been discharged from the hospital and that's the reason she was brought to court.
Responding, Hughes stated that there was no evidence that the weapon was used in any crime and there were no fingerprints to link his client to the weapon. Further whenever she left this country, Hughes said, "she has always gone to represent this country and this can be addressed."
The magistrate after listening to the arguments told Lynch that she would be remanding her on this occasion and she would have to return to court on November 20.
When Lynch heard that the magistrate had refused bail she appeared stunned but showed no other emotion as she was escorted from the court. She appeared in court dressed in jeans, a red and white striped top and fashionable sunglasses.
Her husband Farouk Razac who was charged jointly with her and was granted $1 million bail by Magistrate Gordon Gilhuys was also present in court yesterday.
On Monday, a 24-year-old North Ruimveldt woman who was arrested in a separate raid on the same day also appeared in court. Rhonda Gomes faced five charges including possession of a large quantity of cocaine along with grenades and ammunition and was refused bail.
Gomes of 3009 North Ruimveldt was charged with unlawful possession of arms and cocaine. It is alleged that on November 10 at the North Ruimveldt residence she had in her possession 10 kg, 999 grammes of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking; three fragmentation grenades and one concussion grenade without lawful authority. She is also accused of having two firearms, one AK-47 automatic rifle and one automatic rifle number 008187, 19 7.62 magazines and one pistol magazine without lawful authority. (Keisha McCammon)