A man was caught on camera as he threw a substance on two vehicles belonging to a Berbice businessman, before setting them alight.
Reports are the man was seen approaching the vehicles belonging to M Ali and Son Supermarket at Main and Pope Streets, New Amsterdam, at about 02:20h with a bottle in his hands on Thursday.The vehicles – a Toyota Prado and a Toyota Camry – were valued in excess of million. Guyana Times was told that the lone security guard was asleep.
The brunt vehicle
According to one eyewitness, the man who lit the fire was at the time carrying a gun. Reports are that after the first vehicle was set ablaze, the guard awoke and raised an alarm. Persons in the area rushed to the aid of the security as there was a number of cooking gas bottles in close proximity.
A bucket brigade was formed but this was not sufficient to put out the blaze which was being fuelled by the flammable substance which was thrown on the vehicles. Police have since inspected the surveillance footage as they investigate.
Meanwhile, in July 2015, two bandits went into the supermarket and took away money, phone cards and a licensed firearm.
In October of the same year, bandits broke into M Ali Supermarket and Gas Station at Strand and after taking what they wanted, set the building on fire.
Last year, a female employee of the business was found guilty of stealing. She was sentenced to one year in prison and also fined $500,000.
On Republic Day 2017, the woman was pardoned by President David Granger. (Andrew Carmichael)
