Berbice hotel heist…

Aug 03, 2008 News

Venezuelan suspect dies

Police are probing the death of yet another prisoner under unusual circumstances.

This time, the dead man was a Venezuelan who was apprehended on Friday night following a daring robbery at Malinmar, a hotel in Springlands, Corriverton, Berbice.

The man, identified as Robielkis Robigcel Monte Deoca Arias, succumbed shortly after noon yesterday at the Skeldon Hospital.

Police officials say that Arias was rushed to the hospital at around 08:00 hrs yesterday, after he complained of feeling unwell.

According to the officials, the Venezuelan sustained a cut above his left eye on Friday, shortly after he and another Venezuelan were apprehended. The cut was sutured.

It is unclear how Arias sustained the injury. Officials say that two policemen who had arrested Arias have been questioned.

It is alleged that Arias and an accomplice, Severino Lopez, had rented a room at the Malinmar Hotel at Springlands, Corentyne. At around 20:00 hrs on Friday, the men complained that the taps in their room were not flowing.

When hotel owner Rahat Ally responded, they struck Ally in the head with a handgun and bound him with duct tape.

A source at the hotel says that the men were forced to flee empty-handed after police responded promptly to the attack.

But they stabbed Ally before they fled, causing him to seek medical attention. The fleeing Venezuelans then stole a boat, after stabbing the owner. The hotel is located near the river.

However, the suspects, who were reportedly heading for Suriname, were apprehended after a brief exchange of gunfire with the pursuing police ranks.

The robbers reportedly threw their firearm into the river before they were arrested. Both men had Venezuelan identification cards in their possession.

The death has occurred even as investigations continue into the deaths of Georgetown Prisons’ inmates Edwin Niles and Nolan Noble. Niles died at the Georgetown Public Hospital, on July 21last, from a severe beating.

Noble was reportedly pronounced dead at the same hospital, last week Saturday, after being found unconscious in his cell.