Missing AK-47…
Army court martials Warrant Officer
Kaieteur News
April 2, 2007
The Guyana Defence Force is conducting a court martial against a Warrant Officer as the probe into the disappearance of 33 AK-47 assault rifles takes on a new dimension.
While the military remains tightlipped about the proceedings, Kaieteur News understands that the court martial started more than a week ago and there have already been two hearings.
The Warrant Officer was reportedly in charge of the bond during the period the weapons disappeared.
Although the army had detained several other ranks during the initial investigations, only the Warrant Officer has been subjected to court martial proceedings.
Attorney-at-law Vic Puran, who is representing the Warrant Officer at the hearing, declined to comment.
“As a matter of principle I cannot comment on the proceedings. I have given an undertaking not to divulge any information regarding the court martial,” Puran told this newspaper.
Chief-of-Staff, Brigadier Eddie Collins had told the media earlier this year that there will be court martial proceedings but did not name the rank.
It was widely believed that the court martial would have been against a high level GDF officer who was implicated in the recovery of some of the missing weapons through the use of his cellular phone.
It is not clear if the current proceedings stem from recommendations made in a report on the missing weapons, which was presented to the Defence Board two months ago.
The Defence Board is still to meet to pronounce on the report.