A 54-YEAR-OLD security guard was found dead after the Rose Hall Town, East Corentyne, Berbice store he was protecting was robbed of $1.5 million sometime between 19:00 hrs and 21:00 hrs on Saturday.

According to investigators, a friend of the owner of Sukhram’s General Store popularly known as “Fat Lady Store”, raised an alarm around 21:00 hrs after he called out to the security guard, Munisperen Monien, and did not get a response.

The Guyana Chronicle was informed that as customary, the friend would do regular checks on the building and when he passed on the first occasion at around 18:30 hrs, he did not see Monien. He left but returned about two hours later and called out to the guard but got no answer.

This prompted him to inform the manager and other employees of the store, who upon checking discovered the lifeless body of the man guard in a pool of blood in a back entrance leading into the store.

On closer examination, it was discovered that his throat was slit, his limbs were broken and there was a severe gash to the head.

Further checks revealed that the assailant(s) gained entry to the heavily secured premises by way of a hole in the back fence and made their way into the store.

Sources close to the investigation have revealed that there was no sign of forced entry into the store since the locks were reportedly left open, pointing to an inside job.

Seven persons, including the manager and other staff, are in custody assisting the police with their investigation.

The Guyana Chronicle was reliably informed that the owners of the business are out of Guyana and monies would usually be left secured in the store in their absence.

The manager has allegedly confirmed that some $1.5 million has been lost in the robbery.

A source has revealed that there was an attempted break-in at the store on Wednesday evening and Monien was able to positively identify the alleged perpetrators.

Brother of the deceased, Lloyd Monien, said he received a call sometime after midnight from a friend that his brother was badly beaten and he later found out that he was killed while on duty.

“We went to the place and see he lie down in blood, the police move he and we went over to the mortuary and I see that his neck cut and he foot and hands look like it break and he had a gash to the head, it look like them beat him up badly,” the brother said.

Monien, who is unmarried and has no children, leaves to mourn his two sisters and a brother.