The police are currently seeking the suspected mastermind behind Saturday night’s armed robbery of a Vergenoegen, East Bank Essequibo family, in which over $4 million in cash, jewellery and other valuables were stolen.
Contacted for an update on the case yesterday, Commander of ‘D’ Division Edmond Cooper told Stabroek News that the police were up to late yesterday afternoon pursuing a man suspected to be the mastermind.
Cooper added that a suspect who was already in custody is scheduled to be charged today. He is expected to be charged at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court.
The suspect was arrested after the vehicle that is believed to have been used to transport the bandits was intercepted on the West Coast of Demerara, shortly after the attack on Saturday night.
He was the lone occupant at the time.
An unlicensed pistol and six live rounds were also found in his possession, the police had said.
Cooper previously told this newspaper that the ammunition found in the car matched one of the spent shells that was recovered in close proximity to the scene of the crime.
Also recovered was a quantity of the stolen cash: G$269,000 and CDN$120.
Mohan Persaud, a large-scale fish vendor, and his wife, Jennifer Persaud, were relaxing at their McWatt Street, Vergenoegen home with their children when two men and a woman, who were all armed with handguns, pounced on them around 7:30 pm.
The attack lasted for half an hour and during that time the bandits terrorised the family and threatened to kill the couple’s youngest son.
One gun-butted Mohan to his face, while the two others physically assaulted his wife and daughter as they demanded cash and jewellery.
They later made good their escape with over $4 million dollars in cash, jewellery and electronics.
Mohan had said following the ordeal, he called 911 twice but the calls went unanswered. Afterward, he called a cousin, who is a policeman, and the man summoned police to the scene.
