A West Coast Demerara businessman was shot twice and millions of dollars in gold, diamond and cash were stolen from his Anna Catherina home last night in a drama which also saw a short-lived, high-speed chase through the narrow streets of the village.

Millions of dollars in gold, diamond and cash were stolen   

It is believed that the five heavily armed bandits escaped via the Atlantic Ocean in a waiting boat despite attempts of the villagers to stop them using debris lined across the roads.

Surjaptti-Dhanchan-robbed

Family members of gold and diamond trader Basdeo Sahador, called “Jack”, confirmed that the 47-year-old man was in stable condition despite being shot twice in his back by the gunmen, some of whom were reportedly wearing bulletproof vests.

Heavily armed bandits

According to the businessman's 20-year-old son, Rajendra, the family was in the yard, at around 19:00 hrs, readying to go to the airport when a white car reversed to the front of their yard.

About five men, some wearing camouflaged outfits and bulletproof vests, barged into the yard. According to Rajendra, when he saw the men he realised that it was a robbery and he fled to the back of the yard, where he hid behind the dog kennel. He heard several shots being fired and later learnt that his father was shot while attempting to run.

The bandits reportedly kept the shocked neighbours at bay with gunshots as they reiterated demands for money and jewelry from the family. Taking the businessman's 11-year-old son, whom they beat, the men ransacked the house, kicking down doors in an ordeal that lasted about 15 minutes. The bandits then ran out of the building to the waiting white car.

Meanwhile, according to the businessman's son, he attempted to loose his dogs but they refused to come out of their kennels. After seeing the bandits hurriedly leaving, Rajendra said, he attempted to follow the men in a Toyota Tundra but the pickup lost control during the high-speed chase and crashed in the drain.

The speeding bandits also managed to elude debris which the neighbours had thrown on the road to halt their progress, and escaped.

Kaieteur News was told that the bandits may have escaped using the seawall at Hague, a few miles away, by way of a waiting boat that was reportedly seen landing in the area earlier.

Last night, it was disclosed that the businessman's home was equipped with surveillance camera and the bandits were seen carrying out the acts.

Villagers also believed that the robbery was well planned, from the initial stages of the bandits arriving via sea to their escape. Neighbours were also surprised that the bandits were daring enough to commit the robbery in a street that was barely wide enough to accommodate two vehicles.

•  Sahador was robbed almost one year ago, on December 14, 2006, when while on his way to Bartica, bandits posing as passengers in boat held him and relieved him of millions of dollars and his firearm.

Wednesday 12-12-2007