An Enmore businessman was robbed at gunpoint on Saturday of his payroll and firearm at Coomacka, Linden but the police later held three men at a roadblock and recovered most of the money.
The police said in a press release that at around 13:00 hours on Saturday, Naresh Pooran, 43, of Enmore, East Coast Demerara (ECD) was held up by two men, one of who was armed with a firearm at Coomacka during which the perpetrators took away his licensed pistol and ammunition and $1M and escaped.
The release said that police ranks at a roadblock at Nottinghamshire, Linden, stopped and searched motor car HB 4064 and the stolen firearm and ammunition along with $859,000 and an unlicensed .38 revolver with 3 rounds were recovered.
Three men have been arrested and are in police custody assisting with investigations.
Speaking to Stabroek News yesterday, Pooran said the robbery was the third he had experienced since 2010. He explained that on Saturday, just after midday he was in the midst of his normal weekend routine which includes paying the staff of a sawmill he operates in Coomacka. According to Pooran, he had just arrived at the sawmill and exited his vehicle with his nine-year-old daughter when two men appeared suddenly and asked if he was buying wood. He responded in the negative. After the short conversation, Pooran said he walked away heading into the sawmill when one of the men placed a gun to his ear while the other relieved him of his firearm which was tucked in his waist.
The man holding him at gunpoint questioned him as to where the bag with the money was and he told them it was in his vehicle. They relieved him of his keys and made their way into the parked vehicle where they grabbed the bag with the money before escaping on foot into some nearby bushes.
After being alerted to the robbery, the police were able to intercept the suspected robbers at the roadblock.
In September, 2010, Pooran faced a similar experience when he was robbed at his Foulis, Enmore home. In that incident he was shot. A lumber yard located on the Enmore Public Road was also robbed a month later.
According to the businessman yesterday’s robbery was planned by persons who are well aware of his schedule.
