Bandits rob, beat Corentyne businesswoman

The Comfort Inn Guest House
The Comfort Inn Guest House

Five men on Wednesday evening pounced on a Corentyne businesswoman, beating her, injuring her guard and grabbing jewellery and money, before escaping. Following the robbery, the woman’s daughter went into early labour.

The bandits broke into the Comfort Inn Guest House, Restaurant and Bar located at Lot 9 John’s Settlement, Corentyne and robbed the owner, Bibi Salima Hassan, 48, of $50,000 in cash, US$100, two gold rings, four gold chains, three silver bands, one computer and two cellphones.

The bandits used a crowbar to deal the woman several lashes to her hand.

Her daughter, Fanesha, 27, told Stabroek News that she gave birth to her daughter yesterday morning. She said her due date was on January 20. The woman stressed that she believes the trauma of the robbery led to her giving birth early.

According to Fanesha, at around midnight on Wednesday, five men pounced on her family. She said one stood guard over their watchman, Alexander Sears, 78, outside, while four others entered the house.

She related that they were armed with a cutlass and several crowbars. “Them come by back, them bruck the back fence and break the lock from the back door and come upstairs,” she recounted.

“Them hit the watchman in he head and on he arm with crowbar. He hand swell and he forehead buss,” she added. 

Fanesha related that her two-year-old nephew was also present at home during the robbery.