Trio charged for Reg. 6 RDC robbery, released on $500K bail each

Three men, who are accused of breaking into the Region Six Regional Democratic Council (RDC) office and carting off with millions of dollars in cash, were on Tuesday charged and released on $500,000 bail each.

O’Neil Lampkin, 32, a construction worker of Sheet Anchor Village, East Canje Berbice; Damion Morgan, 25, of Forth Ordinance, East Canje Berbice and Shkeel Grant, a 27-year-old businessman of Asylum Street, New Amsterdam, Berbice, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court Five.

The charge was read to them by Magistrate Faye McGusty.

The men were charged jointly for the armed robbery committed on security guard, Suresh Sooknanan at the RDC office in New Amsterdam, Berbice, on September 13 2023.

They were not required to plead to the charge and bail was granted.

The case was transferred to the New Amsterdam Magistrate Court; it will be called again on October 24 for report.

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, 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.

During the course of the investigation, Police had allegedly shot and injured one suspect and injured another during a Police operation.

The dead bandit was later identified as Kevin Vanlewin, a 19-year-old farmer from Sandhill, Berbice.

Police had said that officers were pursuing five suspects in a vehicle, PSS 3448, when they came under fire. The Police returned fire, wounding Valewin.

A number of other suspects were also arrested and questioned in relation to the crime. However, these three suspects were only arrested Friday