Six members of a gang, including an accused in last year’s Princess Hotel Casino robbery and the son of a Superbet agent, suspected to have committed a spate of armed robberies over the past months have been arrested by the police and are likely to be charged today.
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum confirmed the arrests, which occurred last week. He said the police have secured an extension after their initial detention period had expired and the suspects are scheduled to appear in court today.
Stabroek News understands that following the arrests, the police managed to establish several cases against the suspects, who are said to be part of an armed gang that has carted off millions of dollars from a number of robberies.
Among the suspects is the son of the agent who operates the Superbet sport betting shop at Pigeon Island, East Coast Demerara (ECD).
The suspect, whose name was given as Roberto Sankar, was arrested during last week, according to a source, and he has since admitted to staging a robbery which occured earlier this year at the outlet where approximately $1 million were stolen. He implicated two others who also admitted their involvement in the crime.
One January 30, employees of the Superbet outlet at Pigeon Island, ECD was robbed of approximately $1 million shortly after they collected the cash from another agent. The attack was allegedly carried out by six gunmen.
An eyewitness had told this newspaper that a car “rolled up in the street and [blocked] the road.” He had related that the bandits then went to the Superbet vehicle and demanded the employees hand over all the cash, after which the men jumped back into their vehicle and sped off.
The gang, the source also had also attacked and robbed a man of $800,000 less than two weeks ago at Diamond, East Bank Demerara. Shortly after this incident, Junior Stewart, an accused in last year’s Princess Hotel Casino robbery, who is said to be part of the gang, was arrested.
A police source had confirmed that acting on information received, the police went to a location where Stewart and others were arrested and taken into custody. The money, however, was not recovered.
Stewart of Thomas Street, Kitty was among two other persons who were charged last year May with stealing almost $9 million from the Ramada Princess Hotel Casino.
The attack had occurred on April 29, 2016 around 3.45 am and saw armed bandits storm the business place demanding cash and valuables. Five persons, including Lance Corporal 17352 Andrew Richardson, were shot and injured. One bandit was held as the attackers attempted to escape.
Stewart, who was charged with illegal possession of firearm and ammunition and the robbery at the Ramada Princess Hotel Casino, had been released on bail.
It was members of this said gang, according to the source, who allegedly robbed Rudolph Dyal, a distributor attached to the National Milling Company of Guyana of $4 million and his licensed firearm on February 8.
Stabroek News had reported that 45-year-old Dyal was making his way home along Station Street, Kitty when he was attacked and robbed.
Reports had revealed that Dyal was proceeding west along the road when motor car PRR 6124 stopped in front of him. At this point, three bandits, whose faces were concealed with cloth and who were armed with a rifle and two handguns, exited the car and demanded that Dyal hand over the money. He handed over the bag to the men, who threw the cash into the car which was driven by a fourth person. They then patted down Dyal and relieved him of his licenced .32 Taurus pistol.
As they made their way back into the car, the men fired a shot in the air and escaped.
