Detectives have discovered that an ‘armed robbery’ committed at Crabwood Creek on Sunday was staged and the mastermind and two other men who played varying roles in the house invasion have since been arrested.
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum yesterday confirmed that a 42-year- old businessman, a taxi driver and another man are in police custody in connection with the “staged robbery” and are to be charged shortly. He confirmed too that CCTV cameras at the Grant Crabwood Creek residence revealed that no “long guns” were used in the attack as had been reported but rather the men in question were armed with cutlasses.
Stabroek News was yesterday told of an elaborate plot by the businessman to win back his wife. To make the ordeal appear real, he had the men he hired to invade his house beat him up. Police now believe that a number of crimes which have occurred in the Berbice area within the last few weeks have also been staged.
It was reported to the police that on Sunday at about 3 am men broke into the house and inflicted blows on a couple before escaping with a large quantity of money. Police acting on a tip off arrested a taxi driver on Tuesday. The man subsequently made shocking revelations to the police which would later confirm that it was a staged robbery.
This newspaper was told that about three months ago the businessman and his wife began having domestic problems and they started sleeping in separate bedrooms in their home. Last Friday the man contacted a taxi driver and told him that he wanted him to terrorize the couple in what must look like a robbery. The taxi driver however was not up to the task and he recommended a known thief who lives in Rose Hall. The known thief, the taxi driver and the businessman later met up to plan the house invasion.
This newspaper was told that the husband handed over a detailed plan which showed the location of the 12 CCTV cameras in his home. He also indicated that he wanted certain phrases recited during the attack to give it a more genuine appearance. The businessman promised the taxi driver $200, 000 once the task was complete.
The businessman, detectives were told, picked up the man who would later invade his home at Rose Hall and dropped them off in Crabwood Creek. He then went home. The men were told that they would enter the house through a window located at the back of the house. They were also to inflict blows on the businessman during the robbery.
When they entered, it would appear that the businessman was the first to be attacked. As he was being beaten he began to holler. His wife who came out of her room to investigate was then assailed. Police said that the woman related that she was robbed of US$10, 000 and the businessman estimated his losses in the vicinity of $200, 000.
Stabroek News has since been told that both the taxi driver and the businessman have made confessions to the police. Police also have in their possession a copy of the plan showing the cameras which was handed to the taxi man.
When the taxi driver was arrested he was found with $15, 000 in his possession which he said was part of the money paid to him. He said that he had an additional $10, 000 but had spent it.
The businessman did not sustain major injuries but his wife is hospitalized.
Deoram Sookchand was late last month charged with murdering his wife, Pamela Kendall, whom he had claimed was killed by an intruder at their Number 45 Village, Corentyne home last week.
Sookchand was subsequently held by police after investigators found holes in his account.
Earlier this week a fake robbery was reported to CID Headquarters. Quick work by detectives later unravelled a plot hatched by a man to steal a large sum of money he was transporting for his boss.
Meanwhile Stabroek News has been informed that police are investigating several instances where persons working on delivery trucks have claimed that they have been robbed. Some of these occurrences are suspicious, a police official said.
