Bandits rob Diamond shop owner, taxi driver

A Diamond, East Bank Demerara shop owner was left traumatised yesterday morning after armed bandits, posing as customers, robbed her of over $600,000 in cash and jewellery.

The attack, during which a gun was placed into the mouth of Peaches Bacchus, occurred around 10 am yesterday at her Section B, Block X, Diamond shop.

A police source told Stabroek News that Bacchus was in her shop when the two men, both of whom were armed with handguns, entered under the pretext of purchasing a five-gallon bottle of water.

As a result, she handed over the keys to the cage with the water bottles, which is in her yard, to one of the suspects, while his accomplice requested a bottle of water to drink.

As Bacchus was attending to the men, one of them forced his way into the shop through an opening by the counter.

Once inside, he placed the gun in Bacchus’ mouth and was joined by his accomplice.

The two men then took the woman into her house and demanded that she hand over her cash. In fear for her life, she complied. They also relieved her of the jewellery she was wearing before fleeing.

They managed to get $340,000 in cash, her gold jewellery and her cell phone.

As they were about to escape, they met Bhawani Balram, 40, a taxi driver of the area, who had parked in front of Bacchus’ house to make a phone call. They robbed him of $25,000 in cash, a cell phone and documents.

Several persons from the area have since been questioned as part of the investigation of the attack. The police are seeking the public’s assistance in recapturing convicted prisoner Deryck Oudkerk, who escaped from custody on Sunday while working at a prison officer’s East Coast Demerara home.

Director of Prisons (ag) Gladwin Samuels yesterday confirmed that the 23year-old Upper Watooka, Linden resident was discovered missing around 4.30 pm on Sunday.

According to Samuels, Oudkerk and two other prisoners were cutting bushes at the prison officer Ann’s Grove home, from where he escaped.

At the time of his escape, Oudkerk was serving an 18-month sentence for larceny. He was serving his time at the Lusignan Prison.