THE suspected bandit who was shot during a failed attempt to rob an interior flight services supervisor, in the vicinity of Giftland Mall at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara on Tuesday had been sentenced to two years in absentia by Magistrate Alex Moore at the New Amsterdam Court.

Berbice Divisional Commander, Assistant Commissioner Paul Williams, confirmed to Guyana Chronicle that the injured man Mark Griffith, now hospitalised at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), was sentenced following a trial for a robbery-under-arms allegation.

Particulars of the charge stated that on September 21, 2016, at Number Two Village, Griffith in company with others, while armed with a gun, robbed Navendra Singh of a cellular phone and other items totalling $460,000.

Initially, bail was denied, but was subsequently granted and was drastically reduced to $30,000. However, after the sum was posted in February, the defendant never returned for his court hearings.

Consequently, the trial proceeded in his absence, and on May 29 last he was found guilty as charged, and a two-year sentenced was imposed.

Griffith remained off the police radar until Tuesday when he was implicated in the failed robbery. On that day, a 42-year-old interior flight services supervisor and her security escort, who was armed with a licensed handgun, went to Ogle Airport in a motor car, driven by the supervisor and collected several parcels.

Police said as they were returning to Georgetown via the Railway Embankment, in the vicinity of the Giftland Mall Access Road, a dark-coloured motor car suddenly blocked their path and immediately two males, exited the vehicle, brandishing firearms.

During the process, the armed escort drew his firearm and discharged several rounds which struck one of the bandits, who fell. The security officer then exited the vehicle and discharged his firearm at the other armed accomplice who managed to escape on foot while the vehicle that was transporting them sped away.

The police reported that shortly after, a man suspected to be the accomplice, visited the GPHC with gunshot wounds. Griffith had been implicated in several criminal offences, notably break and enter and larceny and robbery under arms.