Watchman at Lethem RDC dies in robbery, five safes torched

The police today said that a watchman at the Lethem RDC office died after he was gagged during a robbery and bandits raided five safes before fleeing. The dead man has been identified as John Friday.

Police today said that at about 2000h last night, two men entered the compound of the Regional Democratic Council at Lethem and attacked the two watchmen on duty.  The police said that the attackers assaulted the watchmen after which they were bound and pieces of cloth were stuffed into the mouth of one of them.

“The two men then broke into the RDC Building and the Post Office, where a cutting torch was used to cut open a total of five safes and an undisclosed sum of money stolen, after which they escaped.

“The police subsequently visited the scene after they were informed by members of the public where John Friday of Culvert City, Lethem, the watchman whose mouth was stuffed with cloth, was found dead. The other watchman has been admitted to the Lethem Hospital.

All police divisions were alerted and at about 0815h today, police ranks at the Mabura Checkpoint stopped and searched a motor car during which over $4M was found hidden under the rear seat.

Two men and a woman who were in the vehicle have been detained and are in police custody assisting with the probe.