Michael Gopee, the nephew of Minister of Trade and Industry Paula Gopee-Scoon, was remanded into State custody when he appeared at the Couva Magistrates’ Court on nine criminal charges today.
Gopee, 32, a welder and bar operator of Guapo-Cap-de-Ville Road, Point Fortin, was not called upon to plead as the State indicted him on possession of 60 rounds of .56 ammunition and seven rounds of 9 mm ammunition, possession of two firearm components and six counts of threatening to kill police officers.
Senior Magistrate Alexander Prince denied bail based on the seriousness of the offences. Prince remanded Gopee into custody and adjourned the matter to May 2. However, Gopee can still apply to a Judge-in-Chambers for bail. Police arrested Gopee on Friday when they stopped a black Ford Ranger travelling along the southbound lane of the Solomon Hochoy Highway near the Indian Trail overpass.
Police alleged they stopped the vehicle after they realised Gopee was not wearing a seat belt. They said the suspect got out of the pickup and began running while the officers spoke to the driver. The officers ran after him and held him about 30 feet away. In his pocket, the officers allegedly found the 60 rounds of ammunition.
The 34-year-old driver, who is from Point Fortin, also was arrested. Police subsequently searched Gopee’s home in Point Fortin, where they allegedly found one AK-47 magazine, a silencer and a quantity of 9mm ammunition. They said the ammunition is for high-powered assault rifles, including AK-47s.