Bullet holes in the doors of the Republic Bank, Water Street branch after an attempted robbery ended in a shootout between gunmen and the Guyana Police Force along with a private security firm.
The two police constables who were arrested in connection with the failed Republic Bank robbery on Water Street, have been identified as 22320 Constable Blackman and Rural Constable George. Both were stationed at the Brickdam Police Station.
As the Major Crimes Unit of the Guyana Police continues to investigate the matter, the News Room has been reliably informed that the detectives from the unit were up to late on Saturday night (July 08, 2017) moving to arrest another employee of Republic Bank.
That employee upon learning that the Major Crimes Unit is probing the attempted robbery has failed to show up for work.
However, as the five persons who are in custody continue to “spill the beans”, the police on Saturday stumbled on some additional information.
The News Room was told that it was the police constable 22320 Blackman who provided the weapons to the other bandits to go on the bank robbery. The weapons were illegal which he had in his possession.
On Saturday in response from questions from members of the media, Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud confirmed that none of the weapons which were recovered from the crime scene are registered to the Guyana Police Force.
The Top Cop, however, admitted that the fact that police ranks are fingered in the bank robbery is indeed embarrassing to the Guyana Police Force. The organisation celebrates its 178th Anniversary of service to the nation during the month of July.
Constable Blackman is no stranger to controversy throughout his almost three years in the Guyana Police Force, he has been named and fingered in numerous questionable activities and was previously reassigned from one of the most sensitive arms of the Force.
Constables Blackman and George were picked up by the ranks of the Major Crimes Unit on Laing Avenue on Thursday. They were named as the persons who planned the bank robbery which eventually failed. Also picked up on that day was a female employee of the bank.
The two are reported to have been seen in the company of the bank robbery before the robbery on Tuesday morning.
During the attempted robbery which ended in a shootout between gunmen and the Guyana Police Force along with a private security firm, one robber was killed while two taken into custody.
By Leroy Smith
