The statement said that the man and his wife were
closing their home to go to their business place on
Hinck Street when they were confronted by three men
carrying firearms who took them back into the house and
demanded cash. A scuffle ensued between the businessman
and one of the bandits during which he was chopped and
shot in his head.
The three armed men escaped after taking away US$900
and $10,000. Police said that the businessman was taken
to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) where he was
pronounced dead on arrival.
Meanwhile sources yesterday afternoon informed this
newspaper that four men are in police custody in
connection with the incident. This newspaper was told
that shortly after the incident police chased a car with
four occupants and managed to apprehend two of them
including the driver while the others made good their
escape. According to a source, police acting on
information from the two in custody, went to a yard in
Kitty where two other suspects were picked up.
Details as to how the robbery/murder occurred are
sketchy but Stabroek News was told that sometime around
7:30 am three armed men came through an alleyway at the
back of GUYNAZ supermarket and pounced on the
unsuspecting family. The businessman's home is located
in a building adjoining the back of the supermarket.
Stabroek News was told that the men tied up the
businessman, his brother and his wife with duct tape as
they made their demands.
One man who sells in a section of the supermarket
told the media that when he arrived at the location at
about 7:40 am and opened his store he heard knocking but
did not pay heed. It was shortly after that, he said,
Xia's wife emerged from the alleyway at the side of the
house with duct tape on her mouth.
The badly injured man, who was shot in the head,
shoulder, neck and back was placed in a 4x4 and rushed
to the Georgetown Hospital where he died around 9:10 am
while receiving treatment. He arrived at the medical
institution at 8:30 hours.
When this newspaper arrived at the hospital the dead
man's wife covered in blood was walking around the
Emergency Unit of the hospital and just staring ahead in
silence. The shock and trauma she suffered was evident
in her expression. Tears were streaming down her face.
As the body was being taken to the mortuary, the woman
clutched her dead husband's pants and wailed even as
friends attempted to comfort her.
Back at the crime scene, police were busy conducting
their investigations and persons who knew the
businessman who some referred to as "Tall man"
and "Sui" flocked the home as the news of his
death spread. They all expressed their shock at his
demise.
Blood was still evident on the roadway and at the
head of the passageway where the heavily bleeding Xia
was placed in the vehicle. At least two persons were on
the scene with lots of blood smeared on their clothing.
This newspaper was informed that the trio has been
living at the North Street home for the last year and
they were recently the victims of a break and enter and
larceny.
Persons in the area said that they are of the belief
that the men came through the alleyway behind the
building and left the same way since no one reported
seeing anything strange.
Meanwhile, the business people who are operating in
the GUYNAZ supermarket are calling for police
protection. One of them told this newspaper that it is
not only Regent Street business persons who pay taxes.
"Is not them alone, we does pay too. We need
police protection in this place too. They can't only be
patrolling Regent Street," he said.
The man also pointed out that a lot of car trunkers
and other criminal-minded persons frequent the area. He
added too that he was also a victim of a break and enter
and robbery recently.
He informed Stabroek News that the police response on
the scene was very slow. He said that when they were
putting the businessman into the vehicle to take him to
the hospital a police vehicle passed. He said that after
they realized what was happening they drove up Church
Street and came back.
Lin Jai Ya, a fellow Chinese businessman, was charged
with stabbing Xia earlier this year. The offence was
allegedly committed on July 10 at North Road.
According to reports, the businessman had rented a
store in the GUYNAZ supermarket and later rented it out
to Ya with a full stock. Ya according to reports this
newspaper received was not paying Xia for the rent or
stock so on July 10 Xia reportedly went to the store and
began to break up items with a hammer. He was later
reportedly stabbed by Ya and had to be hospitalized.
On June 7, Xia was allegedly robbed of US$2,000,
$75,000 and his cellular phone in the Georgetown Magi-strate's
Court lock-ups by prisoners who severely beat him.
Moments before this incident he had appeared before
Principal Magistrate Melissa Robertson-Ogle charged with
forging documents and was placed on $75,000 bail. It was
alleged that between October 17 and November 29 last, at
Georgetown, with intent to defraud Xia forged a passport
purporting to show that he was issued an extension of
stay on pages 12 and 13 of his passport knowing it to be
forged. This newspaper understands that he had other
matters of a similar nature before the court.
Six prisoners who were in the lock-ups at the time of
the alleged robbery were questioned.
Last Thursday around 8 am at least ten bandits
converged on the Cove and John area around 8 pm Thursday
shooting indiscriminately and attacking Kumar Singh and
his family, including small children, for about 20
minutes before fleeing into the backlands with cash and
jewellery.
Singh, 38, died while undergoing emergency surgery at
the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation about one
hour after the ordeal had ended. He was shot three times
in the chest, twice in the knee and once in the side.
Disturbing
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