Safraz Sports Bar robbery update…
THE AUSTRALIAN national, Jason Montgomery, who was shot and injured when gun-toting robbers descended on Safraz Sports Bar and Restaurant on David and Lamaha Streets here in the city early in the month, is recuperating at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital.

His business partner, Mark Xavier, yesterday told the Chronicle that Montgomery is listed as being in a stable condition after having had a successful surgery upon admission at the city institution.

He said that though the bullet had pierced Montgomery’s abdominal cavity, causing his intestines to leak, the doctors had still managed to save his life by pumping out about two to three litres of waste matter from his stomach and patching the perforated organs.

Xavier said the doctors told him that had they not taken the steps they did, his friend would have been dead within 24 hours of being admitted to the institution. Today, Montgomery is able to walk and is on the road to full recovery.

And just yesterday, Xavier said, he was asking for a lemon-lime Gatorade and was in good spirits. He noted that presently, Montgomery’s condition is being monitored, but that he is thankful he is alive and well despite being shot at point blank range when he resisted when bandits entered the business place where he was having ‘drinks’ and robbed the place.

According to the Police, at about 21:10h on the night of Friday January 8, three men, two of whom were armed with handguns, attacked and robbed patrons and staff of the Safraz’s Sports Bar and Restaurant.

Reports are that after entering the nightspot and holding everyone at gunpoint, the three bandits proceeded to relieve several persons of their jewellery, cash and cell phones, and the bartender of the day’s takings, before making good their escape, unscathed to boot, in a waiting Toyota Carina AT 192 motor car.

Besides shooting the waitress, 36-year-old Khulmattie Singh, to death, the men also shot and injured Montgomery, 38, who is here on business, and 39-year-old Ronald Dhanraj, of Ogle, East Coast Demerara, both of whom were patrons at the time of the incident.

No one has since been charged for the crime, despite the best efforts of the police to solve the matter.

Several suspects were arrested but later released when an identification parade came up empty handed.