Charges likely today as… Employees, 19 and 17, lead cops to buried cash from Berbice store robbery/murder

Apr 06, 2018 News

– Mom who allegedly disposed of knife, washed son’s bloody clothes also held

The murdered security guard, Munesh Prem Munien

Police have retrieved some of the money that two teenage employees reportedly stole from Sukhram General Store and Agro Chemicals on Saturday night, after clubbing 53-year-old security guard Munesh Prem Munien, and slitting his throat.
Detectives reportedly retrieved the cash after the two employees, aged 19 and 17, allegedly gave investigators a detailed account of how they had plotted and carried out the killing and robbery.
Kaieteur News understands that a small sum of cash was found buried at the Guava Bush, Corentyne yard of the mother of the 19-year-old. The elder suspect is said to have confessed yesterday.
On Wednesday, police also detained his mother, who allegedly hid the money. She also allegedly disposed of a knife in a pit latrine, and washed her son’s bloodstained clothes.
Police have retrieved the clothing, but were unable to retrieve the knife, since residents were reluctant to enter the pit latrine to assist in the search.
A senior police official indicated that the teens and the mother may appear in court today, since investigators will be seeking legal advice to ascertain if the suspects can be charged.
“Based on what we have, I am confident that we have sufficient evidence to get a successful prosecution,” the official said, while commending the ranks who investigated the case. About five other individuals remain in custody, but are likely to be released.

STOLE STORE KEY
Police were reportedly told that the youths had stolen a key some time ago, that was used to open the store. One of the teens is a store clerk and the other is a labourer.
Last Saturday night, after all the other employees had left, the two teens reportedly returned to the store.
They found security guard Munesh Prem Munien on duty, and allegedly told him that they had left a bag and other items in the store.
While one of the youths distracted Munien, the other allegedly tried out the stolen key to ensure that it would open the door. After confirming that the key was the correct one, the youth reportedly signalled to his accomplice, who then struck the security guard on the head with an axe handle.
The other youth allegedly then slit Munien’s throat.
They then entered the premises and made off with over $1.5M. Initial reports had put the sum at around $1.2M.
It is alleged that the following day, the 19-year-old asked his mother to help ‘clean up’ his home, which is reportedly in Williamsburg, Corentyne.
On visiting the premises, the mother observed some bloodstained clothing, and her son reportedly told her that he had stabbed someone.
She reportedly cleaned the son’s bedroom, washed the clothing and disposed of a knife that is believed to be the murder weapon.
The woman allegedly also collected a sum of cash, which she buried in her yard.
Investigators who viewed the murder scene observed that there was no sign of forced entry, and immediately suspected that the robbery/murder was “an inside job.”
The youths and five others were detained shortly after the watchman’s body was found.
Police sources had confirmed that they received information of an attempted break-in at the store a week prior to the robbery/murder.
Munien’s battered body was found slouched on sandbags near the back entrance of the general store Saturday night.
The guard, who was only employed a few months ago, had a gaping wound to his head, his throat was slashed and his legs appeared to have been broken.
Munien, who resided with his sister at Clifton Village, Port Mourant, Berbice, some two villages away from his work site, left for work to begin his shift at 17:00 hrs on Saturday.
He was the only guard on duty and was at the back entrance of the business.
This entrance could only be accessed through the front of the store.

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