Following the armed robbery that took place in Central Rupununi, Region Nine, on November 10, a 28-year-old Brazilian-based Guyanese has been charged and remanded to prison, while the other suspects were detained in Brazil.
Regional Commander, Superintendent Raphael Rose, told Stabroek News that while Anderson Cyril was charged in Guyana and remanded to prison, the other suspects involved in the robbery were also arrested in Brazil and are expected to be charged.
Cyril, a 28-year-old of Tabatinga Housing Scheme, Region Nine, appeared before Magistrate Omadatt Chandan at the Lethem Magistrate’s Court where the charge was read to him. He was not required to enter a plea and was remanded to prison.
The three men were arrested following an armed robbery on Wei Gao, a 43-year-old Chinese businessman and owner of ‘Shopping 25’ General Store, located in Block ‘B’ Lethem, Central Rupununi.
According to a police release, the incident took place around 2.15 pm on November 10, when the suspects, identified as three males, one armed with a submachine gun and the others with handguns, entered the store and held Gao at gunpoint.
During the robbery, the assailants demanded cash and stole 21 new Xiaomi cell phones valued at approximately $1,620,000 and $500,000 in cash, totalling $2,120,000.
The suspects were reported to be speaking Portuguese and dressed in dark clothing. They fled the scene on foot towards Tabatinga, making their way west toward the Lethem Commercial Zone. Senior Superintendent Raphael Rose, the Commander for Regional Police Division #9, led a team of detectives to the crime scene shortly after the robbery was reported.
Commander Rose and team gave chase and spotted the three suspects walking, heading south near some bushes towards the Guyana/Brazil border.
When they noticed the police vehicle approaching, the suspects opened fire on it. No injury was reported despite the police vehicle being struck four times. In response to the gunfire and in an effort to apprehend the suspects, a Joint Services patrol team was formed. This collaboration ultimately led to the arrest of all three individuals in Brazil. The three individuals are in custody in Brazil. The investigations continue.
This was the second high-profile attack in the Rupununi within a week believed to have been carried out by Brazilians.
