(Kaieteur News) – Armed bandits on Saturday night stormed the business establishment of 57-year-old Jagnarine Persaud, also known as “Balram”, at No. 2 Village, East Canje, Berbice, and escaped with $10 million.
Police said the robbery under arms occurred at about 19:35 hrs. at the Seema and Devalsh (Balram) Outlet.
Robbed: Jagnarine Persuad, 57
Preliminary investigations revealed that Persaud was in the cashier area of his beverage depot, located on the lower flat of his premises, when three masked men entered the establishment. One of the suspects was armed with a handgun, while the other two carried a baseball bat and a cutlass.
Video footage shared with Kaieteur News showed three masked individuals arriving at the premises in a motor car bearing no registration plate.
Speaking to Kaieteur News on Sunday, Persaud said the vehicle reversed onto his premises shortly after 19:00 hrs. on Saturday, an action that did not initially raise any suspicion.
At the time, his wife and their five-year-old son were outside with a customer, while Persaud was in the cashier section. The couple was preparing to close the business for the day and go out when the ordeal unfolded.
Persaud recalled that the situation escalated after his son began shouting and ran inside the building, followed by the suspects, who had reportedly confronted and pushed a customer into the premises.
“We were going out. We din’ plan to close off to go out, then the car reverse in. After that, we suddenly hear we son shouting and hollering, and he run and come in here. And the guys, they chucked the guy (customer) and pushed him in here. My son, they follow he and come in here,” Persaud recounted.
Jagnarine’s place of business that reportedly lost millions in cash to armed bandits.
He said the men then demanded all the money kept at the business.
“They come in and said they come for all the money,” he recalled.
Persaud said he initially told the men that he had no money, but one of the suspects allegedly threatened to kill him.
“I hold out that I don’t have money, but one of the bandits allegedly threatened, ‘ah killing yuh right here’,” he said.
The businessman said the suspects eventually located the key to a section where cash was kept, collected the money and fled. He noted that the men did not search any other part of the house or business premises.
Police said no shots were fired and no injuries were reported. Persaud also confirmed that no one was physically harmed during the ordeal.
The businessman disclosed that this was not the first time he had been targeted by robbers. His previous business location nearby was reportedly robbed several times about six years ago, although the amounts stolen were significantly smaller.
He described Saturday night’s robbery as particularly traumatic, saying the experience left him unable to sleep.
“Well, it shake me, the whole night. I didn’t sleep. I’m not so much (more concerned about the money), but my life. And my son and my wife, we’re just so traumatised,” he said.
Persaud, who operates a wholesale and retail business, said the stolen cash had accumulated over two days of business at the outlet.
A male employee told Kaieteur News that he was at the back of the extensive facility when the robbery occurred. He said he only learnt what had happened when he returned to the front of the building moments later.
Police have obtained CCTV footage and are reviewing it as investigations continue. No arrests had been made up to press time.
Source: Kaieteur News
