Crime Chief Seelall Persaud yesterday confirmed that police have two men in custody for the Safraz’s Bar and Restaurant shooting which left waitress Kulmattie Singh dead and two others injured.
An identification parade, the Crime Chief said, was supposed to he conducted yesterday. However, he could not confirm whether this was done.
Persaud explained that the two men were among a group of 12 arrested. However, he pointed out the others were hauled in for questioning in relation to other matters.
At about 9.10 pm on Friday three men, two of whom were armed with handguns, attacked and robbed patrons and staff of the bar located on David Street, Kitty, Georgetown. The men were not masked and later escaped in a waiting Toyota Carina AT 192.
During the robbery, Singh, 35, of Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was shot to her head and reportedly died on the spot. Jason Montgomery, a 36-year-old Australian national; and Ronald Dhanraj, 39, of Ogle, ECD, were shot and injured.
Montgomery has been discharged from the Georgetown Public Hospital. Mark Xavier, the Australian’s business associate, told Stabroek News yesterday that Montgomery “is at home resting”. This newspaper understands that Dhanraj remains hospitalized.
A senior police source had told this newspaper a hidden security camera in the bar recorded the robbery. Initially, the source had said, much could not be gleaned from the footage because of the poor quality. However, a specialist has since “cleaned up” the recording and valuable information has been gathered, the source had reported.
The Crime Chief yesterday confirmed that police are in possession of a recording by a hidden security camera at Safraz’s. Asked whether police have been able to obtain useful information from the footage Persaud would only say that the force’s Information Technology department is “enhancing” some of the images.
Stabroek News could not ascertain whether charges will be levelled against the men.
A third suspect is still on the run and police are continuing their hunt.