Another Brazilian miner robbed, killed

Francisco De Asis Da Rocho Muniz, 60, was shot twice after he was relieved of raw gold. He succumbed to the injuries before he could get medical attention.

Police said yesterday that they are investigating an armed robbery that occurred around 09:30 hrs during which Da Rocho Muniz was shot and killed.

Investigations have revealed that Da Rocho, who had a batel with a quantity of raw gold, was with four other men working in a mining pit when a man armed with a gun approached and discharged rounds into the air. The armed man then held him at gunpoint and took away the batel with the raw gold and escaped into the bushes.

Subsequently, another armed man then approached and discharged rounds at Da Rocho, which hit him in his abdomen and right shoulder. Both perpetrators escaped.

The wounded man was taken to the Bartica Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

A team of police ranks have since been dispatched to the area to investigate the incident.

Over the years Brazilian miners have been soft targets for armed robbers and the denseness of the area as well as the lack of law enforcement officers aids an easy escape. In many of the cases, police teams are dispatched to the areas, sometimes days after the incident, to investigate.

Last month, 44-year-old Evanero Altantara Tarmo was shot dead during a robbery at his mining camp at Oku Backdam, Cuyuni.

According to reports, three men, armed with a handgun, a cutlass and a knife entered the mining camp and held up Tarmo’s wife, Aglenzinia Maria De Jesus. They then demanded gold. During this time, De Jesus was assaulted about the body by the men, who then went to the mining pit, where they confronted Tarmo.

He was assaulted by the men and then shot in his back, after which they took away a quantity of raw gold and escaped.

Then last December, Brazilian shopkeeper, Ivan Perreira, was robbed of raw gold and cash at Oku Backdam when two armed men shot him twice before assaulting his wife. He survived the attack but none of the perpetrators were found.