Mahaica, East Coast Demerara businessman Harrylall Motilall, known as ‘Jinga Harry,’ was arrested over the weekend after he allegedly opened fire on law enforcement officers, who were responding to a report of him allegedly having in his possession a quantity of smuggled items.
A source told Stabroek News that between 10.30pm on Friday and 12.30 am on Saturday, ranks of the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) went to a bond located at Jonestown, Mahaica, owned by Motilall.
While near the bond, the ranks stopped a minibus, BKK 8511, which had several boxes of smuggled chicken. The driver, a 28-year-old rice farmer, was detained
Another minibus then drove into the compound of the bond and the occupants allegedly discharged several rounds at the ranks. As a result, the police were summoned to provide assistance.
While the CANU ranks awaited the arrival of the police, they used their vehicle to block the entrance of the bond after which more rounds were then fired. The ranks returned fire.
The shooters then boarded a vessel and escaped.
It is alleged that Motilall was one of the shooters and high-powered firearms were used. No injuries were reported.
Motilall was subsequently arrested.
The bond was checked and no one was found. Several vehicles in the compound were also searched but smuggled items were not located. Several spent shells and warheads were, however, recovered at the scene.
Motilall has faced charges before and has been convicted.
In September of this year, he was charged with firing a gun as well as possession of components of a firearm without a licence. Bail was granted on both charges.
Prior to this, he was jailed for shooting at Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) officers.
Stabroek News previously reported that on May 16th, 2016, Motilall was found guilty of shooting at Fabian Stuart, Jason Moore, Khemraj Murli and Garfield Scott, with intent to maim, disfigure, disable or cause grievous bodily harm, on July 16, 2014, while in company of others at Airy Hall, Mahaicony.
The ruling was handed down in Motilall’s absence by Magistrate Sueanna Lovell at the Mahaicony Magistrate’s Court.
The magistrate had ordered that Motilall spend the first two years in prison.
He was to serve the remaining two if he committed any other criminal offences after the ruling was passed.
The case was initially called on July 21st, 2014, before Magistrate Lovell, and Motilall was placed on $350,000 bail. He was arrested in June, 2018 at a roadblock at the Cove and John Public Road, and escorted to the prison to commence serving his sentence.
Stabroek News had reported that officials had swooped down on a Mahaicony property where 150 boxes of chicken were being discharged from three buses.
During that time, a silver-coloured car appeared and the occupants opened fire at the GRA officers, who returned fire. Five spent shells that were reportedly from an AK-47 assault rifle were recovered, while a few were recovered from the officials’ guns.
It was reported that GRA officials came under fire while intercepting smugglers. The workers were in the process of taking away three vehicles with the smuggled items when the accused drove up in a silver car and discharged several rounds. One of the workers was shot in the chest and right hand.
