As the probe into the $50m robbery committed at the Regional Democratic Council of Region Six on September 13 continues, the Guyana Police Force’s investigators are now narrowing down their questioning to the injured suspect.
Bandits during the wee hours stormed the Region Six compound and carted off the $50m in cash which was to be paid to part-time workers.
Hours after the robbery, police cornered what is suspected to be the getaway car at Heathburn Village, East Bank Berbice, during which one of the bandits identified to be 19-year-old Kevin Vanlewin, a farmer, from Sandhill, Berbice, was shot and killed. Three of the suspects escaped on foot in the direction of the Canje River, while the driver of the car, Tarrique Pollard also known as ‘Tari’, a 33-year-old taxi driver from Mahaicony was arrested at the location. A firearm was also recovered in the car.
After the shoot-out police were able to arrest one of the suspected bandits who had escaped on foot. Stabroek News was told, that Lawrence Vanlewin who was arrested near the Heathburn location, sustained what is suspected to be gunshot injuries. Lawrence Vanlewin is the uncle of the deceased suspect, Kevin Vanlewin.
The Guyana Police Force had confirmed that Lawrence was hospitalized at the Georgetown Public Hospital “for alleged gunshot injuries.” This newspaper was told that after being arrested the suspect was taken to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital after which he was transferred to the city hospital for surgery.
Commander of Region Six, Shivpersaud Bacchus has confirmed that Lawrence has since been released from the GPHC and is “in police custody assisting with the investigation.”
Meanwhile, last week police confirmed that the driver of the vehicle was released from custody and a source had said that he claimed to investigators that he was hijacked by the armed men.
The 3.30 am robbery had all the hallmarks of an inside job in a compound where four unarmed guards were on duty, and the force had said that a female was also arrested for questioning. She was eventually released.
It seems that none of the money has been recovered so far.
