Coghlan Dam robbery: Barber, farmer charged, released on $500,000 bail each

Kasho Hardeo, a 20-year-old barber/construction worker of Track A Coldingen, East Coast Demerara, and Hansraj Madhu, a 46-year-old construction worker and farmer of Track A Coldingen, were arrested by Police and charged on Tuesday for the offence of break and enter and larceny.

It is alleged that the two broke into the dwelling house of Yaynauth Ramkissoon, a 34-year-old businessman of Coghlan Dam, West Bank Demerara, on October 20.
Hardeo and Madhu appeared on Tuesday before Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Vreed-en-Hoop court where the charges were read to them.
They both denied the offence and were each placed on $500,000 bail.
The duo was among five persons following the daring daylight robbery at Coghlan Dam.
Their arrests led to the discovery of over $7 million and several pieces of gold jewellery which were taken during the robbery.
Police stated that the men escaped with $10.2 million and a quantity of gold jewellery valued at $680,000 belonging to a businessman along with another $2.8 million and a quantity of gold jewellery valued at $980,000 belonging to his wife.
Reports are that the businessman’s wife secured the home and went to the doctor’s office at Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara (WCD), to take her son, who was unwell.

When the woman returned home, she discovered the top half of the back access door to the house wrenched off.
Upon seeing this, she immediately made checks in the house during which she saw her bedroom ransacked. The cash that was kept in a bag in the wardrobe along with several pieces of jewellery that were on the vanity were missing.
The matter was reported to the Police, the scene was processed and several persons in the area were questioned.
As investigations intensified, Hardeo, Madhu, and three others were arrested. During interrogation, the suspects took detectives to their residences where one of them pointed out two areas in his yard where he had buried the loot.
The area was dug up and a total of $1,160,000 was found in one hole and another $1,495,000 was found in another along with a quantity of jewellery.
The suspect’s mother, a cleaner who also resides at Coldingen, ECD, handed over another $1,225,000.
The farmer, on the other hand, took the investigators to an area on his farm but nothing was found. Nevertheless, his wife – a 47-year-old vendor – handed over $1,495,000 and a quantity of gold jewellery to the Police. In addition, her 38-year-old adopted brother of Non Pareil, ECD, also handed over $1,660,000 which they both claimed was given to them by the farmer.
The case will continue on December 12. (G9)