By Delana Isles

Basdew Somaru

ARMED, unmasked bandits attacked and robbed a Better Hope, East Coast Demerara man of his jewels Monday night.

At the time, the victim and friends were at a hang out bar in the same village.

Recounting the incident for the Guyana Chronicle yesterday, Basdew Somaru, of Lot 10 Better Hope South, said two men entered the drinking place, approached him at the counter and one of them picked up a bottle, broke it and dealt him a lash to his head.

Somaru said he attempted to defend himself but the other attacker drew a gun and, being scared, he told them to take whatever they wanted.

One of the robbers then snatched the gold chain and band, worth about $200,000, that Somaru was wearing, fired a shot into a wall of the building and he and his accomplice escaped on foot.

Somaru believes he was targeted by the assailants, because one of them had been in the premises 10 minutes before the robbery, under the pretext of purchasing a phone card which is not sold there.

Somaru said, as the pretended purchaser was about to depart, their eyes met and the crime was committed shortly after.

Police responded to the report promptly but after the suspects had fled.

Somaru said he would be able to recognise one of the criminals but they are, obviously, not from that area as he is a well known jeweller in the Better Hope and neighbouring Vryheid’s Lust communities.