Samo held up at cafe and stabbed

Fast food businessman Samo Yarna, the owner of Samo’s Cafeteria and roti shop at Abercromby Street, Port-of-Spain, was tied up, robbed and stabbed twice in the back by one of two bandits who entered his businessplace on Monday afternoon.

Yarna, who was treated at the St Clair Medical, opened for business yesterday but said that his employees are operating in  fear. The drama started around 3.45 pm on Monday when Yarna, his wife Mala and son Miguel were attending to customers. Two men pretending to be customers asked for two rotis, but when Mala went to the back to prepare the food, one of the bandits pointed a weapon at Yarna and announced a robbery. They ordered him to the kitchen where they tied him up and then tied up Mala, Miguel and a customer who witnessed the incident. All the victims were ordered to lie on the ground as the bandits kept demading money.

Yarna said that he pleaded with them to take the money in the cash register and not harm them. He added that the bandits were annoyed that not much money was in the cash register and returned to the kitchen where one of the two men stabbed him twice in the back. He said that the bandits left the scene shortly after. They were able to untie themselves and he was rushed to the St Clair Medical Centre where he was treated and discharged. Yarna claimed that two years ago he suffered five break-ins and last year nine break-ins took place at his business place. He claimed that while he is fearful for the safety of himself and his family the only source of livelihood is his business and he cannot close up shop and leave.

Downtown Owners and Merchants President Gregory Aboud who visited Yarna at his business place yesterday expressed alarm and concern that such a crime took place in broad daylight. He called for more police presence to deal with crimes being committed against members of the business community in downtown Port-of-Spain.