Gunman carts off millions from Cottonfield contractor

– 2 suspects in custody

Police in Regional Division Two are currently investigating an alleged robbery under arms committed on 44-year-old Yajgeet Chandradeo, called “Ajay”, a contractor of Lot 25, Block 3, Richmond Housing Scheme, Essequibo Coast, on Saturday, October 17, at about 15:10h at Cottonfield. According to Police, some $3,367,500.00 in cash was stolen during the robbery.

Enquiries disclosed that the victim is employed by 50-year-old Rakesh Samaroo, owner of Builder’s Hardware and businessman of Cotton Field, Essequibo Coast. Approximately 40 workers are employed at the construction site.
According to the victim, he normally pays workers on Saturdays. He stated that on Saturday, October 17, at about 11:47h, his son, 21-year-old Raj Chandradeo, of the same address as his father, collected the money from Samaroo’s office at Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast. Then, at about 12:10h, the victim collected a black plastic bag of money from his son and placed it in a compartment of his motor canter.
The victim further stated that at about 15:00h, he left home in his motor canter and proceeded to the construction site at Cottonfield, Essequibo Coast. Upon arrival, he parked the vehicle on the access street, approximately four feet from the entrance, and retrieved the black plastic bag containing the money. The victim went on to say that, while he was walking towards the entrance, he was approached from behind by a male wearing a black ski mask, brown long pants, a brown long-sleeved shirt bearing the logo “SECURITY”, and black high-top boots.
The male was armed with a black object that appears to be a handgun, which he pointed at the victim while demanding that he hand over the black plastic bag containing the money.
Fearing for his life, the victim complied and handed over the bag containing the cash to the assailant. The man then ran in an eastern direction and made good his escape in a black Toyota Allion motor car, registration PAB 6966.
Acting on information, the motor car was later discovered at its owner’s residence in Jib, Essequibo Coast.  As a further result, several operations were set up across the region and at the Capoey Public Road, Essequibo Coast, where a motor car, PAR 665, was stopped. The car was being driven by 38-year-old Eshwar Kissoonlall, a taxi driver of Lot 151, Anna Regina Housing Scheme, Essequibo Coast, who is attached to OVO Taxi Base, Anna Regina.
According to the Police, another male in black three-quarter-length pants and a black-and-white T-shirt was observed sitting in the front passenger seat of the vehicle. The driver and the passenger were instructed to exit the vehicle, and searches were conducted on their persons. While nothing illegal was found, a Police rank observed a black haversack on the back seat of the vehicle. Upon being questioned, the passenger, who identified himself as Jarell James Barker, a 25-year-old taxi driver of Lot 17, De Kinderen, West Coast Demerara, stated that the haversack belonged to him.
A search of the haversack in his presence discovered one .45-calibre pistol bearing serial number NM 712659, together with a magazine containing seven live .45-calibre rounds of ammunition.

A further search of the haversack revealed one pair of brown jogger pants, one brown long-sleeved shirt bearing the logo “SECURITY”, and two black ski masks. The suspect was informed of the offence and cautioned, after which he admitted ownership of the firearm and ammunition. He was then escorted, along with the recovered firearm, to the Anna Regina Police Station.
Upon arrival at the station, the firearm was dusted for latent fingerprints but none were found. The firearm, ammunition, and clothing were photographed, sealed, and lodged separately with the Subordinate Officer (S/O) in charge of the Anna Regina Police Station.
During an interview, Jarell Barker admitted to committing the robbery with another accomplice identified as Preston Skeete, who is reportedly residing in Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, and Linden, Region 10.
Acting on further information, 30-year-old Skeete was arrested at Lot 14, Westbury Old Road, Essequibo Coast, and placed into custody. Checks were made with the construction company, which discovered that Skeete was employed with the company but didn’t report at the work site on the day of the alleged robbery.
Further investigations have so far revealed that on Friday, October 16, at about 11:32h, Jarell Barker had rented a black Toyota Allion motor car bearing registration number PAB 6966 from Countryside Auto Rental, of Lot 24, Jib Housing Scheme, Essequibo Coast.
The scene was processed by Detectives while the surrounding area was canvassed for CCTV cameras, and several cameras were observed on nearby buildings. Efforts are currently being made to review the available CCTV footage.
Statements were taken as investigations are ongoing.