Latest update January 17th, 2025 6:30 AM
Alleged robbers remanded for Canje River ranch raid
Two men, accused of involvement in a recent ranch raid at Canje Creek, were yesterday charged jointly and subsequently remanded when they appeared at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Alex Moore.
Timothy Sampson, 30, a cattle farmer of Lot 12 Adelphi Village, East Canje, Berbice and Lawrence Van Lewin, 24, a chainsaw operator of Sandhill, stood in the courtroom, shackled, as the charge of robbery under arms was read to them.
It is alleged that on Friday 2nd March, 2018 at Potocco Creek, Canje River, in the company of others, robbed Bharrat Mahadeo of 24 sheep valued at $1.2M, a solar panel worth $75,000, a flashlight valued at $4000, 4 lengths of rope valued at $24,000, one Cutlass valued at $2000, a Radio with a cost of $2500, Horse bit $10,000, 15 ducks worth $30,000, a Nokia cellphone worth $5000 – a grand total of $1,375,000, property of Krishna Persaud.
The Prosecution led by Inspector Bernard Brown in his objections for bail stated that the nature and gravity of the crime should be taken into consideration. It was also highlighted by the prosecutor that the men are known to the police for previous offences and in addition, have pending matters at the Springlands Police Station. He stated that more charges are also likely to be brought before them, pending the investigations.
Timothy Sampson (left) and Lawrence Van Lewin (right) at court yesterday.
However, Sampson, who requested to speak, told the court that, “The day when we went in the boat we were coming out the creek and the police stop we, dem ent find nothing on the boat”. However, Prosecutor Brown stated that nothing was found on the boat, but the police were led to the stolen items with the assistance of the suspects.
Bail was subsequently denied and the two men are set to return to court on March 26.
Additionally, a 21-year-old man of Betsy Ground, who was handed over to police by Canje residents yesterday after he was heard yelling for ‘help’ in the Canje Creek, is likely to be charged. This was confirmed by a source close to the investigation. It was disclosed that the victims identified the individual as one of the six men involved in the robbery, giving police the green light to place him before the court for the offence. The other suspect has since been released on station bail.
On Friday at approximately 10:00 am police in B’ Division acting on information of a robbery at Potocco Creek, Canje River, ventured to the area.
A team led by a Senior Detective intercepted a boat with the suspects who are now in custody, in the Berbice River, and based on further information, the ranks proceeded to another location. There, they discovered all of the animals with their legs bound and other stolen property loaded inside of a camouflaged aluminium boat.
It was after the ranks disembarked their boat that they were confronted by two men who discharged several rounds at them. The officers returned fire, fatally wounding the men, who were positively identified by the victims as members of the gang who committed the robbery.
A twelve gauge pump action shotgun, a .32 pistol, eleven live cartridges, and five live.32 rounds were found in possession of the bandits. Also, three spent cartridges and a .32 spent shell were retrieved at the scene.
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