Police awaiting DPP’s advice before instituting charges

Tuschen robbery

The Police is awaiting advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) before moving forward with charges in connection with Friday’s night robbery on the Five Star Chinese Restaurant, Tuschen New Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo (EBE).

One bandit was killed during the robbery.
When contacted on Tuesday, Region Three (Essequibo Islands- West Demerara) Police Commander Simon McBean said that three persons remained in custody even as Police were hunting a female who was also involved in the robbery.
“We are still looking for the female who have, based on our evidence, is outstanding. We don’t have a name; we are searching based on description,” McBean stated.
The regional commander further added that the Police have sought legal advice on the matter.
“From yesterday (Tuesday) we would have still had the three persons arrested – one hospitalised, two in Police custody. We are preparing to seek advice in the matter,” he explained.
The suspects in custody are a Police Constable attached to the Special Branch at Eve Leary, Georgetown; a 20-year-old Herstelling, East Bank Demerara (EBD) resident and a Buxton, East Coast Demerara (ECD) resident.
Following the robbery, Mark Prince, called “Fine Man”, was shot dead.
Speaking with Guyana Times, Prince’s reputed wife, Onika Thompson claimed that she was unaware that her partner had brushes with the law and was involved in the robbery.
However, even as she claimed no knowledge of her partner’s criminal activities, in 2016, Police had issued a wanted bulletin for him. In 2017, Prince was charged jointly with Regan Singh, for trailing a businessman from a city bank and robbing him. In 2018, Prince was among six men who were nabbed at a Police roadblock on the Grove Public Road, EBD. The men, while on bail for various criminal offences, had attempted to commit armed robbery on poultry farmer Michael Chang Yuen.
On Friday, Prince was among the bandits who pounced on Guang Hong Wang, 43, proprietor of the Five Star Chinese Restaurant and her husband who operate the food establishment in the lower flat of their premises. A customer, Navindra Lakahalall, 37, of Zeelugt New Housing, Scheme, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), was also robbed when the bandits invaded the premises. Reports are Lakahalall was in the restaurant when one of the male suspects and a female entered and purchased two beverages. Police reports stated that as soon as they consumed the beverages, they ordered a case of beer and in the process of Wang delivering the same, the male suspect whipped out a handgun and relieved her of two cellphones and an undisclosed sum of cash.
He then turned his attention to Lakahalall, and relieved him of one silver chain and an undisclosed sum of cash. At the height of the robbery, the three other suspects entered.
However, a neighbour, who is a licensed firearm holder, heard the commotion and immediately went to investigate and was attacked by the armed suspect and another with a cutlass. He then discharged several rounds in their direction after which the suspects fled the premises in a motor car with license plate PTT 8606 that had been parked nearby, leaving their accomplice Prince, who had been shot, at the scene.
The Police were contacted and the vehicle was intercepted at a roadblock on the public road in front of the Den Amstel Police Station.
At the time, the car had three occupants – one was in the back seat with what appeared to be a gunshot wound. He was questioned, arrested, and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital.
An unlicensed pistol with an empty magazine was found in the vehicle along with an undisclosed sum of cash and cellular phones.
It was later revealed that Prince who had been left behind with a gunshot wound to the neck died on the spot. A cutlass was in his right hand and a haversack was on his back.
His body was taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Some $130,000 was found in his possession.