BUSINESSMAN John Paul Ramanand was robbed by a gunman on Monday morning at Herstelling New Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara; and now he fears for his life and that of his family after receiving a threatening telephone call from that gunman. The 35-year-old father of four told the Guyana Chronicle that he had left his Kitty, Georgetown home and had gone to a city bank where he had made a withdrawal; and then he went to a house which is under construction at Herstelling New Housing Scheme to make a purchase of some materials, since some workers were there.
Ramanand said it was at about 10:10 hrs when a man arrived on a bicycle and asked him if he had any work for him, to which he replied in the negative.
However, about 10-15 minutes later, the same man returned, but this time he wasted no time in placing a gun to Ramanand’s head.
Ramanand said the gun-toting bandit ordered him to take off the pouch he was wearing, and also relieved him of his wallet, before discharging a round in his direction when he told the robber that that was all he had.
Ramanand was relieved of G$965,000, money he had to purchase materials for the construction of his house; a wallet containing US$500, G$15,000, Canadian documents, including his ATM cards, credit cards; and his son’s health card, among other important documents.
Ramanand said an accomplice was hiding in some nearby bushes while the gunman was robbing him, and when the gunman discharged a round in Ramanand’s direction, he managed to duck; but when he decided to draw his firearm, which was concealed in his waist, to return fire, the suspects fled.
Ramanand said he gave chase in his motor car, but the two robbers, still firing shots at him, escaped through the nearby village of Mocha Arcadia.
The businessman told the Guyana Chronicle he made a report to the police, and a suspect, who used to work on his house, was arrested, but was released. Ramanand believes that that suspect had masterminded the entire robbery.
Ramanand is hoping the police can soon arrest the bandit who robbed him at gunpoint, since he feels threatened because the man, a criminal known to lawmen, has been telephoning him with threats, and knows his whereabouts and that of his family.
Ramanand is offering a reward for any information which may lead to the arrest of the suspect, who hails from Mocha Arcadia and is called “Teddy Stoby”.