BANDITS HELD AFTER ROBBERY SPREE

Two bandits, who went on a robbery spree early yesterday, in Chaguanas were arrested after a shoot-out with police. One of the bandits, who suffered a gunshot wound to his left thigh, underwent emergency surgery and has since been placed under police guard at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital. Reports revealed that around 1.30 am, Shoba Marimuthu, the 29-year-old daughter of a doctor of Mayo Village, Tortuga, was driving her Honda Civic in the company of her boyfriend Rajesh Ramoutar, 34, when upon reaching Edingburgh Village, Chaguanas, they were confronted by two bandits.

They were ordered out of the car and robbed of a gold chain, a wallet containing cash, and a cell phone. One of the bandits drove the stolen car while his accomplice followed in a black Corolla. The victims stopped a passing vehicle and were able to alert the police by using the driver’s cell phone. Officers of the joint police/army patrol responded. The officers intercepted the two cars along Ramsaran Street, Chaguanas. One of the bandits fired at the officers, who returned fire. The 26-year-old bandit of St Joseph was shot in the left thigh while his accomplice, a 25-year-old man of Tunapuna was arrested. Both men have criminal records for robbery-related offences.

Inspector Ashton Clarke, Ag Cpl Alexander and others visited the scene and some of the stolen items were recovered. While the two victims of the robbery were being interviewed at the Chaguanas CID, Musthuin Ali, 27, of Endeavour Road, Chaguanas, walked into the station and reported that around 1 am he was at La Clave Street, Montrose, when two men in a black Corolla held him up, struck him in the back of the head with a gun butt and robbed him of a cell phone. He later pointed out the apprehended thief as being one of the two men who had robbed him.