Accused bandits charged for mining camp robbery

Two alleged cutlass-wielding bandits, who reportedly attacked and robbed a miner in his camp at Takatu Backdam, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), on Friday last were hauled before Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Terrence Bacchus appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and pleaded not guilty to the offence while Titus Valenzuela admitted to the charge which stated that on December 27, 2019, at Takutu Backdam, Cuyuni River, while being armed with cutlasses, they robbed Candacia Ramroah of a phone valued $58,000.
It was further alleged that on the same day and the same location, while being armed with cutlasses, they robbed Joao Pintoo of $830,000, a cologne valued $87,000, a phone valued $5000 and 14 pennyweight of raw gold valued $180,000.
Valenzuela in a plea of mitigation told the court that “I robbed him because my family needed the money”.
As a result, Valenzuela was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment while Bacchus was remanded to prison.

The prosecution is contending that the robbery occurred at about 23:30h while Dostristinto, his cook and a worker, were sound asleep in their mining camp.
According to the prosecution’s case, the two suspects, each with a cutlass, stormed the camp and threatened to kill the miner if he did not hand over the cash, gold and other valuables.
After putting up a resistance, the cutlass-wielding bandits bound Dostristinto and proceed to ransack the camp. The cook and the worker were reportedly in their respective quarters when the men executed the robbery.
Dostristinto reportedly told Police that the masked bandits relieved him of $830,000 that he had on his person and then robbed him of two mobile phones.
They also collected four bottles of brand name colognes and 14 pennyweights of raw gold before they made good their escape.
Shortly after the robbery, the worker and cook employed by Dostristinto became aware that something was amiss and went to their employer’s aid. The miner was then untied and he immediately contacted the police to report the matter.
Investigators began their probe and the hunt for the two suspects intensified after they received information that the men were leaving the region.
On Saturday, a team of policemen who were deployed at the Bartica Ferry Stelling observed two men acting in a suspicious manner as they were on board a vessel destined for Parika, East Bank Essequibo.
The duo was taken off the boat and taken to the Bartica Police Station where they were searched, during which the money and other items were discovered.
The case will continue on January 19, 2020, at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court.