Gun-wielding robbers terrorised an elderly couple on Friday evening before escaping with $4 million and it is suspected that their driver orchestrated the robbery.
According to a police release, Anthony Charles, 77, along with his wife Rose and a maid were at their 68 Cross Street, Werk-en-Rust home with the door open when two men armed with handguns entered, held them up and robbed them of $4 million.
Speaking with Stabroek News yesterday, Charles said it was 8.10 pm when the harrowing robbery took place. He said he had just eaten dinner and was sitting in a chair near door which was open; his wife was sitting at the dinner table and the maid was in the bathroom. Charles said he heard a sound at the gate and called the maid to see who is at the gate. By the time the maid responded that she was in the shower, “the person come in very fast”.
Grabbing Charles by the back of the neck and pointing a pistol at him, the robber ordered the man and his wife to lie face down on the floor while another robber went upstairs to look for money.
“After me head down me heard [one of them] call ‘Lil Man, you find the money?’” recounted Charles who said the robber had him pressed to the floor with a foot on his back. The robber again demanded money threatening to shoot everybody, Charles said.
When Charles told the man that the money was under his bed, the robber shouted to the one upstairs and told him that the room was next to the refrigerator. After collecting the money, the men locked Charles, his wife and their maid in a downstairs room and ordered them to remain on the floor as they made good their escape.
Meanwhile, Charles said he believes his driver is behind the robbery. He explained that earlier in the day, he and the driver had been making a list to buy items such as stone and cement blocks. Charles who has a business in Port Kaituma and a hotel in the city said he asked his son in Port Kaituma to send $4 million for him.
Charles said that at the time he was making these plans with the driver they were upstairs. He pointed out that the driver had asked him for something to drink and he directed him to the fridge and went into his bedroom which is next to the fridge.
Later, Charles said, the driver took him to the Ogle Airport to pick up the money. He believes that his driver saw him collect the money since he was parked just a few spaces away.
From Ogle, Charles said, he instructed his driver to take him to his hotel in the city where he collected $700,000 which was used to buy cement blocks and stone. The bag with the $4 million was left at the hotel. The pair then went to the Soesdyke Junction where they conducted more business before returning to Georgetown and collecting the money bag from the hotel.
When Charles reached home he said it was some time after six and he had instructed the driver to drive into the garage before he exited the car. Charles said he then went upstairs and placed the bag under his bed. Before the driver left, he gave him some change to go home.
Some two hours after the driver left, Charles’ family was attacked. Charles said he shared his suspicions with the police and the driver was held and questioned in front of him. He said the driver denied knowing about the money.
Meanwhile, Charles said he will be looking at improving security at his home following this incident. His wife said she was still somewhat shaken after the incident.
