Corriverton men granted bail for possession of firearm, ammo

Two men from Corriverton were granted bail on Monday after being accused of firearm and ammunition possession.

Mark Matthews, a 23-year-old laborer, and Umeer Park, a 23-year-old businessman, both from Springlands, Corriverton, appeared before Magistrate Tuanna Hardy at the Whim Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

It was alleged that on April 16th, 2026, in Dukestown, Corriverton, Matthews, and Park possessed two black 9mm pistols with one round of ammunition.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the joint charges.

During court proceedings, the prosecution objected to bail, citing an incomplete case file that needed to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice.

Represented by Attorney Vinay Punwa, the defendants’ bail application was made.

Punwa asserted that his clients did not have the firearms and ammunition, explaining that officers had observed the weapons in the hands of individuals on a boat arriving from Suriname.

He acknowledged that his clients were present at the scene during the operation, but emphasised they were there by coincidence.

Punwa also informed the court that Park has a heart condition, supported by medical documentation.

Taking the lawyer’s request into account, Magistrate Hardy granted bail of $300,000 per person, with $250,000 for the firearms and $50,000 for the ammunition.

The men are scheduled to return to court on May 14th at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court for further proceedings.

According to a police statement, officers from the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU), acting on intelligence, responded on April 16th, 2026, around 16:00 hours, to Dukestown, Corriverton, near the sea walls. They searched two males—Park and Matthews—and found each holding a black box containing a ZORAKI 9mm pistol, with serial numbers A31ZR99YS03-2401246 and A31ZR99YS03-2401248, respectively, along with a single .23 round of ammunition.

The officers escorted the suspects, along with the weapons and ammunition, to the Springlands Police Station, where they were informed of the charges, placed in custody, and subsequently charged.