The gunman who was captured on October 7 after an armed robbery on the Dutch Bottle Café yesterday died in hospital after being found unconscious in the police lockups.
Kelvin Poonsammy, 22, of Lot 12 Joseph Pollydore Street, Lodge, Georgetown, was discovered in an unconscious state at the Brickdam lockups and was then transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he later died a press release from the police said.
It is alleged that on Friday evening, Poonsammy along with two others, invaded the North Road, Bourda restaurant and robbed the Manager, Renata Chuck-a-Sang, of one laptop and one cell phone. His two accomplices managed to escape with the items while Poonsammy was held because of the resistance put up by the female manager.
According to the restaurant’s employees, Poonsammy was the only one of the three perpetrators who was armed, and had held a waiter at gunpoint as he demanded cash later gun-butting Chuck-a-Sang several times in the head.
The man was subsequently beaten, allegedly by taxi drivers and guards of other nearby businesses, after customers and staff members alerted the public with their loud screams.
He was arrested that evening and according to the police, was taken to the GPHC where he was treated, discharged and then placed in custody.
The police statement said that Poonasammy had been visited by ranks on duty at 0900h yesterday, and appeared to be in good condition at that time.
When Stabroek News last evening visited the home of Poonsammy, his girlfriend, Arifa Lisa, explained that she had just arrived with the intention of collecting some of the man’s clothes to take to the police station since he was expected to appear at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court today. However, she was then informed by neighbours of his death.
Lisa recalled that the last time she had seen Poonsammy, who she said was a soldier, was on Saturday when he was brought to the house by the police who conducted a search. “I don’t know if the police beat he or who beat he but he face de swell up big, big and all he ears been bleeding,” she said.
“He coulda hardly talk with how he face swell up… They de find a bag an put he back in de vehicle an went away,” she continued. According to the police, three 9mm rounds and several items from an army kit were found during the raid.
The release went on to say that while being questioned by investigators, Poonsammy confessed to being involved in several other armed robberies that had all been committed by a three-man gang, one of whom was armed with a gun.
These included an armed robbery on September 9 at Goed Fortuin Housing Scheme, West Bank Demerara where $150,000, a quantity of cell phone cards and one cell phone were taken from businessman Bishnu Ramdyal; an armed robbery on October 6 at Ramroop’s Furniture Store, Lombard Street, Georgetown, during which two sales clerks were held at gunpoint and robbed of one cell phone; and also the armed robbery committed on October 1 at Dennis Street, Campbellville, where Ramon Gaskin and two female guests were attacked and robbed of $50,000, two cell phones and a quantity of jewellery. Gaskin was chopped in the head and on the left arm during the incident.
