As the probe into the $50m robbery committed at the Regional Democratic Council of Region Six on Wednesday morning continues, the Guyana Police Force only has one person now in custody as the driver who was nabbed in the suspected getaway car has since been released.
Bandits during the wee hours last Wednesday stormed the Region Six compound and carted off the $50m in cash which was to be paid to part-time workers.
Hours after the robbery, police cornered what is suspected to be the getaway car at Heathburn Village, East Bank Berbice, during which one of the bandits identified to be 19-year-old Kevin Vanlewin, a farmer, from Sandhill, Berbice, was shot and killed. Three of the perpetrators escaped on foot in the direction of the Canje River, while the driver of the car, Tarrique Pollard also known as ‘Tari’, a 33-year-old taxi driver from Mahaicony, was arrested at the location. A firearm was also recovered in the car.
After the shoot-out police were able to arrest one of the suspected bandits who had escaped on foot. Stabroek News was told, that Lawrence Vanlewin who was arrested near the Heathburn location, sustained what is suspected to be gunshot injuries. Lawrence is the uncle of the deceased bandit, Kevin.
The Guyana Police Force had confirmed that Lawrence was hospitalized at the Georgetown Public Hospital “for alleged gunshot injuries.” This publication was told, that after being arrested the suspect was taken to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital after which he was transferred to the city hospital for surgery.
Head of the force’s communication arm, Mark Ramotar on Monday said “Investigations ongoing… One of the suspects is recovering at the GHPC and will soon be interviewed by detectives.”
However, Ramotar yesterday confirmed that “the driver is no longer in custody” stressing that the other suspect was still receiving medical attention at the GHPC with the investigation continuing.
Meanwhile, according to a source, the driver of the vehicle had claimed to investigators that he was hijacked by the armed men.
The 3,30 a.m. robbery had all the hallmarks of an inside job in a compound where four unarmed guards were on duty, and the force had said that a female was also arrested for questioning but eventually released also.
