Lethem bank guard killed while defending wife from robber

Apr 19, 2017 News

A security supervisor at the Guyana Bank For Trade and Industry, Lethem, was yesterday tragically killed after he rushed to the defence of his wife against a bandit.

In happier times: Haimchand ‘Raj’ Persaud with his wife and two children.

The incident has left that Region Nine community in deep shock and two young sons are now without a father.
Dead is Haimchand ‘Raj’ Persaud, 31, of Tabatinga, Lethem, and from the Essequibo coast, Region Two.
According to reports, shortly before 2 am yesterday, Persaud and his wife, Shenika Xavier, 22, were heading home from a pageant held at a hotel in Lethem when they were pounced upon.
Persaud had gone there with a motorcycle, but decided against riding home because of a few drinks he had. He instead opted to walk with his wife.
Family members indicated that the incident happened not far from the GBTI compound, in the vicinity of Carly Bus Service.
The robber, who was dressed in a red shirt, had a cloth wrapped around his face to mask his identity.
The couple had reportedly turned onto a dark street in the direction of their home, and appeared to have been followed. The robber ran up to the woman and attempted to grab her bag. However, Persaud immediately rushed to her defence. During a scuffle with the robber, the bank official was stabbed in the chest.
The assailant is believed to have panicked and abandoned the robbery bid. He escaped on a motorcycle that was ridden by another man.
In the meantime, his wife reportedly ran screaming to a nearby army base, but no one came out. She then went for help at a nearby hotel.
Relatives said that by the time Persaud was taken to the Lethem Hospital, he was dead.
Police in a statement said that Persaud, a Central Rupununi resident, was pronounced dead just after 2:30hrs at the hospital. He was bleeding profusely from a single knife-stab wound to the left region of his chest.
Police said that from investigations, Persaud and his wife had left an entertainment bar about 01:55hrs, in their community, after imbibing with some friends.
“…as they were in close proximity of their home, the suspect pounced with a knife and attempted to rob them, during which a physical encounter ensued between the victim (deceased) and the suspect who stabbed him (victim) and escaped on a motorcycle.”
Kaieteur News was told that the pageant, part of the annual rodeo activities, had been postponed from Friday because of poor weather.
According to Opposition Parliamentarian, Alister Charlie, who is from the area, Persaud was a hardworking man who moved to there about six years ago. He was at the time of his death in charge of security at the bank.
“We are deeply shocked at his death. He is a committed family man and well-liked.”
Kaieteur News was told that persons in the community believed that robber was from neighbouring Bon Fim, a community in Brazil that borders with Lethem via the Takutu River.
Persaud’s two boys are both said to be under five years of age.
There was an outpouring of grief on Persaud’s Facebook page yesterday with former classmates of his, from Abram Zuil Secondary School, Essequibo coast, expressing deep shock.

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