Reg.6 RDC robbery: $50M stolen, several in custody as probe continues

As the probe into the robbery at the Region Six Regional Democratic Council (RDC) office continues, investigators are currently questioning several persons including one man who is hospitalised.

This was confirmed by Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum on Thursday. He told the News Room that it was also established that an estimated $50 million sum was stolen during the robbery that was allegedly committed by a group of five men.

Additional details of the robbery were provided on Wednesday by Regional Chairman, David Armogan.

“They went and pierced the door which was leading to the room where the money was. When they got in, they pierced another door and they got access to the suitcase with the money inside,” Armogan told reporters on Wednesday.

He added, “They didn’t carry all the suitcases. Apparently there was some money in the other room and they didn’t trouble that.”

Armogan said that the authorities are awaiting the outcome of the Police investigation.

“The Police are doing an investigation and we don’t know what the conclusions are at the moment. So we have to await the findings of the Police… The Police did some fingerprints and stuff like that…We have cameras, but they (bandits) had gloves and stuff like that so it won’t be easy for them to get fingerprints,” he said.

Meanwhile, Police Headquarters reported that one of the suspects was fatally wounded during a shootout with the Police on Wednesday. His identity has not yet been disclosed.

Another suspect, Tarrique Pollard called ‘Tari’, a 33-year-old taxi driver from Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara, was captured. Pollard is believed to have been the driver of the vehicle, PSS 3448, which the Police were pursuing when they came under fire.

Three other suspects managed to escape. Police, however, recovered a handgun, knives and a cutlass in a vehicle they were in. Lawrence Vanlewyn, one of those suspects who managed to escape then, was apprehended later Wednesday. He was described as a “known character” who had several brushes with the law.

Another suspect is currently hospitalised.

The robbery occurred at around 03:10 hrs. At the time, four security guards were on duty. Police Headquarters said four unidentifiable men entered the compound from the eastern fence and dealt one of the guards, Suresh Sooknanan, 60, a lash to his forehead.

Sooknanan then made his way to the front of the compound where he informed his colleagues what transpired. Those colleagues untied him and the matter was reported to the Police. Sooknanan was later escorted to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital to seek medical attention.

Upon checking the building, Police said it was discovered that two windows from the department were open. The cash which was stolen was kept in the Accounts Department of the building.