Armed bandits beat, terrorize Moblissa Family

Jul 25, 2015 News

A Moblissa family of three is severely traumatised and counting losses after enduring an hour of terror at the hands of five armed bandits who invaded their home early Thursday evening.

Seemangal Van Lewin displays his injury.

The bandits, who were all masked and dressed in black, invaded the home of 53-year-old Seemangal Van Lewin, and his wife, Carlotta DeAbreu, shortly after 19:00 hours. The intruders proceeded to tie up Van Lewin. They also inflicted a beating on him.
DeAbreu recalled that the family was at home watching television, when the men barged into the house with three guns, two cutlasses and a long knife. She added, “They kick me husband in he head and after they done kick he in he head, they tie we up and soak he with kerosene oil and methylated spirits and say they gon light the house afire. Dem even threaten me son telling he that if he don’t show dem where the money deh they gon kill he.”
However, eventually they (bandits) left, without shooting anybody or burning the house, the still traumatized woman reported.
Her husband who was obviously in pain as he spoke with media operatives, said that the family had been watching television, when he saw the door open suddenly and a man with a gun ordered him to get down on the ground.”
I thought it was like a joke and before I could think in terms of getting down on the ground, off the chair, the other one run in with two cutlasses. Whilst I getting down that is when I get the first lash. And the first lash actually got me out of my mind. I was totally stupid. And after I went down on the ground they ask me, where is the money?
I tell them the money is in my wife’s shoulder bag right on the table, and one of dem dash and collect the bag and throw it out, pick up the money and ask,’Where are all the cell phones?’ I tell dem me cell phone is right on the table and they pick up all three the cell phones, money and they come back and give me another lash, they stamp me in my head and kick me across here where swell up,” he pointed out indicated an area around his left temple.
His wife added, “They tie up me husband and start fo beat he up; all the time they asking fuh money. If you see how de tumble the house, cut up chairs, tumble through wares, everywhere they tumble.”
Van Lewin who later had to be rushed to the Linden Hospital Complex for his injuries, said that he is now in severe pain as he was kicked in the head and about the body and also broadsided with a cutlass.
“And when dem finish beating he, they pour kero on he from head to foot and threaten to catch he afire. De even pour methylated spirits on him,” his wife added.
After they had collected all the cash, cell phones and jewellery the family had in their possession, the bandits made good their escape in Van Lewin’s car, which they later abandoned on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway.
Because the family had no means of contacting anyone, they reportedly made their way to another residence, where they made contact with their son who lives at Amelia’s Ward.
Van Lewin was subsequently taken to the Mackenzie Police Station where a report was made. He was then taken to the Linden Hospital complex for medical attention. Van Lewin estimates his losses in the vicinity of some $300,000.
He however expressed relief that the men did not make good on the threat to burn his home, the upstairs is wood and lower flat is concrete. There was a gas bottle which they had threatened to shoot to create an explosion.” I am happy that did not happen because we would not have been here to tell the tale,” he reflected seriously.