Two arrested, abducted schoolgirl, 15, rescued

At around 23:00 hrs on Monday, five masked men armed with cutlasses stormed the Tide Restaurant and Bar at La Jalousie, West Coast Demerara. The suspects reportedly relieved several individuals of their valuables during the violent robbery, which left one of the victims, 59-year-old Richard Ghanshan, with head injuries.

According to authorities, Ghanshan, the proprietor of the establishment, was outside attending to his dogs when the bandits approached him and began demanding money and jewellery. One of the suspects struck Ghanshan multiple times with a cutlass, causing injuries to his head. The suspects then forced him upstairs to confront the other victims.

Among the victims was 15-year-old schoolgirl, whose phone and gold jewellery were stolen. She was then abducted by the bandits, who placed her in a getaway car—a white Fielder wagon, registration number PAH 7157—and sped off towards Pouderoyen.

The thieves’ attempt to escape, however, ended abruptly when the driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a trench near Pouderoyen public road, West Bank Demerara. Police responded quickly after an alarm was raised, arresting two suspects at the scene.

The arrested individuals were identified as 21-year-old Perciven Aaron, also known as ‘Barban’, a labourer from Thomas Street, Georgetown, and 19-year-old Isaiah Bowen, also known as ‘Pranks’, from Church Street, Stanleytown, West Bank Demerara. Authorities also found several of the stolen items in the back seat of the crashed vehicle.

The abducted schoolgirl was rescued unharmed by police ranks, who arrived shortly after the crash. The victims of the robbery, including Ghanshan and 18-year-old cashier Raphal Sarwan, were taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital for treatment. Both were treated for injuries inflicted during the robbery and sent home.

In addition to the two arrested suspects, police have recovered multiple stolen items, including mobile phones, laptops, and a quantity of gold. Crime scene investigators processed the site and retrieved CCTV footage from the bar, which may provide further evidence in the ongoing investigation.

The two suspects remain in police custody as inquiries into the robbery continue.