Two men have been remanded to prison in connection with an armed robbery in which $3.3 million was stolen from a contractor at Cottonfield, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), while one of the accused has been sentenced to 58 months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to separate firearm and ammunition charges.
Preston Skeet, 30, a labourer with addresses in Linden, Region Ten, and Westbury, Essequibo Coast, and Jarrel Barker, 25, a taxi driver of De Kinderen, West Coast Demerara, appeared before Magistrate Ravindra Mohabir at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
The two were jointly charged with robbery under arms, contrary to Section 222(c) of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Chapter 8:01, in connection with the October 17 robbery of contractor Yajgeet Chandradeo at Cottonfield.
The charge was read to both men, and they pleaded not guilty after the abbreviated preliminary procedure was applied. They were remanded to prison, and the matter was adjourned to November 17.
Barker was also charged separately with possession of a firearm without a licence and possession of ammunition without a licence, contrary to Section 16(2)(a) of the Firearms Act, Chapter 16:02.
He pleaded guilty to both charges before Magistrate Mohabir on Tuesday and was fined $100,000 and sentenced to 58 months’ imprisonment, with the sentences to run concurrently.
The robbery occurred at about 15:10h on October 17, when Chandradeo, 44, was reportedly robbed of $3,367,500 intended for payment to workers at a construction site.
According to police, Chandradeo had collected the money from his son earlier that day and placed it in a compartment of his motor canter.
He later drove to the construction site at Cottonfield, and while walking towards the entrance with the cash in a black plastic bag, he was approached from behind by a man wearing a ski mask and clothing bearing the logo “SECURITY”.
The suspect, who was armed with an object resembling a handgun, demanded the money. Chandradeo handed over the bag, and the assailant fled in a black Toyota Allion motor car.
Police subsequently conducted several operations across the region. During one operation at Capoey Public Road, officers stopped a vehicle in which Barker was a passenger.
A search of a haversack identified as belonging to Barker reportedly uncovered a .45-calibre pistol, a magazine containing seven rounds of ammunition, brown clothing bearing the “SECURITY” logo and two black ski masks.
Police said Barker admitted ownership of the firearm and ammunition. Investigators also reported that he allegedly admitted to participating in the robbery with another man identified as Skeet.
Skeet was subsequently arrested at Westbury Old Road, Essequibo Coast. Police also reported that checks with the construction company showed he was employed there but had not reported to the work site on the day of the robbery.
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