Construction worker freed of gun and ganja charges

A 39-year-old construction worker of Better Hope, Christopher Durjan, had three charges—possession of a firearm, ammunition, and ganja—dismissed on Monday at the Sparendaam Magistrates’ Court.
Durjan appeared before Magistrate Abigale Gibbs and was represented by attorney Bernard DaSilva, whose earlier submission regarding a caution statement was upheld.
The court ruled that the prosecution failed to prove the elements of possession against the defendant.
Police had alleged that ranks searched Durjan’s home and found a Taurus 9mm pistol with a magazine containing five matching rounds of ammunition concealed in a black plastic wrap under the house.
During a subsequent search in the yard, officers reportedly unearthed 2,238 grams of ganja buried in the ground.
Durjan had been charged with possession of the firearm, ammunition, and ganja, and was previously remanded after pleading not guilty at his initial court appearance.