Two ECD men remanded after caught sleeping with stolen car in Lusignan backlands

Two men accused of hijacking a taxi and assaulting its driver were on Wednesday remanded to prison after appearing before the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court.

The accused have been identified as 22-year-old Shawn Prince, an auto bodywork technician of Lusignan, and 26-year-old Nick Sumair, a construction worker of Good Hope Phase 2—both from the East Coast of Demerara.

The men were arrested on Sunday night (June 1) and later charged with robbery under arms, contrary to Section 222(c) of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Chapter 8:01. The charge relates to the attack on 29-year-old Kumar Isree, a taxi driver from Bushlot Village, West Coast Berbice.

According to reports, Prince and Sumair were caught by police while sleeping in the very vehicle they had stolen. The car was discovered in the Lusignan backlands, partially covered with a tarpaulin and already stripped of several parts.

Investigations revealed that the men had hired the taxi driver on Sunday afternoon at Bath Settlement for a trip to Mahaica. However, during the journey, they reportedly brandished a firearm, threatened the driver, and instructed him to continue driving. Upon reaching a secluded area in Lusignan, the men allegedly tied up the driver, assaulted him, and dumped him out of the vehicle before fleeing with it.

Fortunately, the driver managed to untie himself and sought help from a passerby, who lent him a phone to contact his relatives and alert authorities.