– escape with $3M

By Kristen Macklingam

Gunmen stormed into the Ruimzeigt Rice Processors Inc, Alesie Avenue, West Coast Demerara (WCD) on Thursday night and escaped with over $3 million after beating the security guard on duty.
According to reports the bandits also escaped with six laptops and machinery parts. The incident occurred at about 01:30h.
Reports are that the men entered the facility from a back entrance and held the two security guards at gunpoint before beating and duct-taping them.
Chief Executive Officer of the Ruimzeigt Rice Processors Inc Jai Kesswanie in an interview following the incident said the perpetrators used a blowtorch to open the safe where the cash and other items were stored.
“In the process of cutting open the safe door they damaged a lot of things, in addition to taking the monies and valuables. The one security who was badly injured we took him to the West Demerara Hospital but it was locked and even the police station here was locked… we then had to call the police and then they came immediately to the scene,” he explained.
According to Kesswanie, this is not the first time a robbery has taken place at his businessplace, however, the losses on previous occasions were minimal in comparison to this latest incident.
Meanwhile, this newspaper was told that investigators are working on the theory that the robbery was an “inside job”.
An investigation has since been launched.