Armed bandits on the prowl at Mc Doom yesterday morning robbed an Eccles money- changer of $3M before hijacking his car and escaping.
The vehicle was later found abandoned at Industrial Site, Ruimveldt and the police subsequently searched the businessman’s home for drugs after nearby residents allegedly told them that the money-changer had links to the underworld.
Police in a statement said that around 8:15 am yesterday three men all armed with handguns robbed Mohamed Khyume, 43 years, a businessman, of Eccles, East Bank Demerara, of his AT192 motor car, PGG 8753 and $3 million cash which was secured in the car at the time, at Mc Doom Public Road, East Bank Demerara.
Police said that investigations so far have revealed that Khyume parked his car on the eastern side of the road and was in the process of escorting his children to their school when he was confronted by the armed suspects who stuck him up, took away the car and drove away. Police were later called in and around 8:30 am the car was discovered abandoned at Industrial Site.
Speaking to Stabroek News, Khyume said that he works on America Street as a money-changer, a job he has been doing for over 19 years now. According to the businessman yesterday morning he stopped at the Academy of Professional Studies at Mc Doom Public Road to drop off his children to school. The man said upon pulling up in front of the school he observed two men with their caps pulled down on their faces. The man said he instantly realized that the men were up to something sinister and he tried to keep an eye on them while at the same time shepherding his children out of the car. Khyume said that two of his children were already out of the car and the third was about to disembark when three men armed with guns stormed his car. Khyume said the men pointed their weapons to his head and shoved him out of the vehicle. They then sped off with it. The businessman said that he had $3M in the vehicle to conduct his business and although the money was concealed in different parts of the car the bandits found all.
Khyume said that he was thankful that the criminals did not damage his vehicle and although he is aggrieved over the theft of his $3M; he said he was grateful that they did not end his life or fire any shots.
He believes that the bandits had staked out the area for him, noting that he usually takes his children to school every day and young men around the area would have good knowledge of this. Khyume said also that he was a well-known money-changer.
The man said that following the attack on him, three police officers showed up at his Eccles premises, telling him that they were told by a resident that he did drugs. Khyume said the officers requested to search his house and he allowed them. He said after a search for about 15 minutes the officers left without uncovering anything untoward. “I don’t believe them that a neighbour told them this. I usually live very good with my neighbours and no one would say that,” Khyume asserted.
He told Stabroek News that he was upset over the matter, noting that he had earlier praised the police for recovering his vehicle and was then embarrassed later.
Khyume said that he was never attacked before. “I have been doing this business a long time now and I always say that one day this (robbery) would come along so I am not too distressed,” the businessman said.
The East Bank corridor between Mc Doom and Eccles has been the scene of several high-profile attacks over the past months and despite police promises of stepped up patrols citizens continue to be attacked by bandits. (Nigel Williams)
