A Guyana Defence Force soldier, who had been court martialled for desertion, was sentenced to five years imprisonment after he was found guilty of robbery under arms, committed two years ago, at Ikuruwa, Canje River.
Vandell Dazier, called Vandell Skeete, 22, of Bachelors Adventure, East Coast Demerara, was sentenced in absentia by Magistrate Adela Nagamootoo, who earlier confiscated the $250,000 bail granted by a high court judge.
Police Corporal Sheldon King , prosecuting in the New Amsterdam Court, had led evidence of several witnesses to prove that on February 4, 2009, at the Canje River location, the convict, armed with a gun, robbed Yao Roberts of one Yamaha outboard engine, valued at $500,000, a wooden boat valued $400,000, a quantity of foodstuff valued at $20,000,  five bird cages, valued at $15,000, five birds worth  $260,000, and a gold ring, valued at $20,000.
Roberts, a farmer  of 205 North Haslington, East Coast Demerara, was in the riverine community , in Berbice, when he heard a motor vessel passing by his camp. Moments later, after venturing into his vessel, Dazier, who was in another boat, jumped into the victim’s vessel and removed a .38 revolver from his waist.
Dazier held Roberts at gunpoint, returned him to the camp, tied him up and beat him severely.
Dazier used a cutlass to cut off Roberts’dreadlocks. Then he placed a plastic bag over his head and threw him into the river. Then Dazier and others removed the articles from the camp.
Roberts was rescued from the river, and the matter was reported to the Central Police Station.

Dazier was later arrested in Georgetown.