Overseas medical doctor and others granted $800,000 bail

A medical doctor from overseas is among four persons charged with gun offences in January and each were granted $800,000 bail on Thursday.

The group, which includes one female, was arrested in January after police allegedly found a Glock 19 pistol with a magazine containing eleven 9mm rounds in a handbag inside a car they were travelling in along Princess Street in downtown Kingston.

On Thursday, 34-year-old Javid Johnson, a medical doctor from Mount Vernon, New York, and 22-year-old Antuan Latchman of London were granted bail in the Gun Court on charges of possession of a prohibited weapon and unauthorized possession of ammunition.

Their lawyers successfully argued for their release under conditions that they surrender their travel documents and report to the police three times weekly. A stop order was also imposed.

Meanwhile, the other two accused, Shaday Rampassard, a 37-year-old nurse, and 26-year-old Akeem Sang, a higgler of Congreve Park, Bridgeport, St. Catherine, were remanded until March 1, when their bail applications will be heard.

According to police reports, around 11:35 p.m. on January 8, a police team intercepted a Suzuki Swift motor car for a suspected Road Traffic Act violation.

While questioning the driver, officers allegedly observed a firearm in a handbag inside the vehicle. Further inspection confirmed it was a Glock 19 pistol with a loaded magazine. All four occupants were taken into custody and subsequently charged.

Attorney-at-law Orville Morgan represents Johnson, while Leroy Equiano represents Latchman. Davion Vassell is representing Sang, and Tamika Harris is representing Rampassard.

- Tanesha Mundle

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