KELVIN Poonsammy, 19, of Joseph Pollydore Street, Lodge, who was apprehended after a foiled robbery at Dutch Bottle Café, on North Road, also in Georgetown, last Friday, has died. Police reported that, at about 10:30 hrs on Sunday, Poonsammy, who had been in custody at Brickdam Police Station lock-ups, was found in an unconscious condition.
He was taken back to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPH), where he had been treated before, but succumbed while receiving further medical attention.
Poonsammy was one of three men who robbed the owner and three employees of Dutch Bottle Café, at gunpoint, on Friday night.
But he was confronted by a number of persons, who went to the assistance of the victims and beat him.
He was handed over, together with a gun, to the police, in whose custody he remained until his demise.
Police said he was visited by ranks on duty at 09:00 hrs on Sunday and appeared to be in good condition at that time.
Meanwhile, a search of his home yielded three 9 mm rounds and several items of Army kit and, when questioned by the police, Poonsammy had admitted his involvement in several other armed robberies that were all committed by a three-man gang.

They occurred:

* on September 9, at Goed Fortuin Housing Scheme, West Bank Demerara, where businessman Bishnu Ramdyal was held up and robbed of $150,000.00, a quantity of cell phone cards and a cell phone;

* on October 6, at Ramroop’s Furniture Store, Lombard Street, during which two sales clerks were held at gunpoint and robbed of cash and a cell phone and

* on October 1, at the Dennis Street, Campbellville home, also in Georgetown, of Raymond ‘Rambo’ Gaskin, where he and two female guests were attacked and robbed of $50,000, two cell phones and a quantity of jewellery and Gaskin was chopped on his head and left arm.
Meanwhile, police yesterday said a post-mortem examination was performed on the body of Poonsammy by pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh, who gave the cause of death as perforation of the lungs and blunt trauma to the head.
According to a police statement yesterday, “Kelvin Poonsammy was allegedly beaten by persons who had gone to the assistance of the owner and staff of the Dutch Bottle Café on North Road, Bourda, on Friday, October 07, 2011, as they were being robbed at gunpoint by a group of men that included Kelvin Poonsammy.”

The owner of the Dutch Bottle Café, Renata Chuck-A-Sang said the attack took place about 20:30 hrs Friday. She was injured and is now a patient at the Woodlands Hospital.
However, Poonsammy’s two accomplices escaped in a gold coloured motor car which was parked outside the business place, taking with them, the owner’s laptop, her cell phone and some money she had in her possession.
Last year, the business was robbed by a group of six men about 22:00 hrs when their booty was a mere $800.
The café has since changed its opening hours temporarily.