Cotton Tree money changer robbed of $1.2M cash

A West Coast Berbice money changer was robbed on Sunday morning of $1.2M in cash by armed men while he was standing on the Rosignol Public Road conducting business.

Jaipaul Harrilall, also known as `Drakes’, 38, of Cotton Tree Village, West Coast Berbice was robbed around 9 on Sunday morning. Stabroek News was told that he was standing on the Rosignol Public Road next to the NBS Bank, when two men armed with guns approached him. The perpetrators then placed their guns at Harrilall’s ribs and demanded he hand over whatever money he had in his possession.

The unmasked men carted off the cash that the money changer had in his hands at the time along with a bag containing more cash as well as Harrilall’s car keys and cellphone. According to information gathered, Harrilall had both foreign and local currency in his possession and it  totalled $1.2M.

The men then ran into a waiting car, a silver grey 212 bearing licence plate number PPP 5951, after which they made an escape.

According to information gathered, Harrilall has been a money changer for over six years now and this is the first time he was attacked and robbed.

Investigators have launched a probe however, no one has yet been arrested. The source also noted that a vehicle which is suspected to be the one which the bandits used to escape was found abandoned yesterday at Foulis Village, West Coast Berbice. The source stressed, “We are investigating”.