– probe launched into police inaction
Several suspects have been taken into custody following a daring $7M robbery on Friday night at a business place at Lot 15‘A’ Albion Front, Corentyne which is in proximity of the Albion Police Station.
Amidst the efforts of police to capture the suspects, ranks from the Albion station have come in for heavy criticism for failing to respond to calls about the robbery.
Stabroek News learnt that Ganesh Prettipaul, owner of the grocery shop and liquor restaurant along with other persons drove over to the station after the bandits fled and without letting them in ranks on duty said the patrol vehicle was out.
However, they noticed the vehicle in the compound and an enraged resident started pounding on the door for the ranks to open.
Contacted, a senior police officer in Berbice told Stabroek News that they have received information regarding the poor response from the ranks and that “an investigation has been mounted.”
Although it was the duty of the ranks to be at the scene, he said it was too soon to say exactly what had occurred that night and what actions would be taken.
Six masked gunmen entered Prettipaul’s business place around 11.10 pm and placed him and his workers and customers to lie on the floor and kicked and beat him.
Three of the bandits remained in the business section of the building where a salesgirl and two male customers were held up. They had already grabbed the cash from the register when they then attacked Prettipaul’s wife, Chandradai in the dwelling area.
She was beaten about her face and body by the men who then tied her up, after which they ransacked the home and reportedly took $2.4 million and US$13,000.
Three cell phones, $11,500 and a quantity of personal jewellery were also taken away from the salesgirl and two customers before escaping.
