Berbice duo remanded for $2M Essequibo Coast robbery

Two men have been jointly charged and remanded for the offence of robbery under arms committed on Monday at Huist Dieren, Essequibo Coast.
Alim Fareed, a 38-year-old construction worker residing at Lot 155 Little India, Corriverton, East Berbice, along with Nicholas Christopher, a 27-year-old construction worker from No. 76 Village, Corriverton, East Berbice, was charged in connection with the incident. Both accused appeared at the Suddie Magistrate’s Court, where they were not required to plead. The prosecutor objected to bail, and as a result, both men were remanded to prison until October 17. The duo was apprehended hours after allegedly robbing hotdog vendor Andrea Singh, 30, and her family at their home at Huist Dieren Public Road. According to investigators, the robbery occurred around 13:30h on Monday, while Singh was sitting in a hammock with her one-year-old baby in the yard.

The suspects, both masked and posing as Ministry of Finance employees, initially asked to see her elderly grandmother’s identification card, claiming they were there for a pension matter. Singh told police she became suspicious after detecting the scent of alcohol and cigarettes. Nevertheless, one of the men requested water, and shortly afterward, both suspects allegedly drew a firearm and forced their way into the home.
Once inside, they held Singh and her 83-year-old grandmother at gunpoint and demanded valuables. The robbers escaped with four gold rings valued at $250,000, a gold band valued at $200,000, G$1,500,000 in cash and US$2410 in cash.
Singh reported the incident at 13:45h. Acting on intelligence, regional anti-crime patrols went to an abandoned property in Huist Dieren around 14:14h, where Fareed was found hiding in bushes with a haversack. Inside the bag, police discovered a quantity of cash and a black plastic bag containing suspected cannabis. Fareed was arrested and taken to the Aurora Police Station, where he reportedly admitted to the robbery.
Later that day, another patrol located Christopher, who also allegedly confessed to the crime. He led detectives to an area where he hid additional cash and a black toy gun believed to have been used in the robbery.