Bandit killed in police shootout
Another held after robbery 

One bandit was killed and another arrested when police engaged them in a gun battle on Sunday evening at Success, East Coast Demerara, just after the pair had beaten and robbed a poultry farmer and his wife.

One police officer was shot in the abdomen during the firefight.

The bandits, who were armed with an AK 47 rifle and other weapons, wore black masks and gloves and carried haversacks.

The dead man was identified as Gopaul Chowtie of Western Hog Island Esse-quibo River. Chowtie was found on some old boards in a clump of bushes yesterday morning by police after he had spent the night there, bleeding from his wounds. Reports are that he sustained three gunshot wounds, two to his legs and the third to his right hand. He was found around 7 am by a security guard at a nearby compound, who saw him writhing in pain. The police were called and he was picked up and transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital. He was pronounced dead on arrival.

Chowtie's accomplice was held on the same night and told the police that he had been kidnapped and taken to the scene.
Bandit Gopaul Chowtie was found in this yard after he was riddled with bullets by policemen on Sunday evening (Jules Gibson photo)

The injured officer, Gavin Ricknauth was up to press time yesterday a patient at a city hospital. Ricknauth, from Airy Hall Mahaicony, is a constable and stationed at Sparendaam Police Station.

Stabroek News was told that Chowtie was implicated in a number of pirate attacks in the Corentyne. The police added that he was charged in 1991 with treason and is known to them for piracy on the high seas. But when asked why a man with such a character was issued with a firearm licence, a senior police officer told this newspaper that reports are that the licence was issued following instructions from a senior officer.

Stabroek News was also told that while Chowtie was charged with treason he was never convicted and was released some time in 1992.

Family ambushed

The shootout, which began around 8.30 pm started in the yard of Success poultry farmer, Jules Chabrol located on the public road and ended in the stockyard next door.

Giving an account of the robbery, Chabrol Jnr, said his mother and father had just returned from a wedding around 8.20 pm when the bandits struck. He said his parents drove into the yard and parked the vehicle. His mother, Leila went to close the gate when the bandits struck.

He said both of his parents were accosted simultaneously by the bandits who not only robbed them but also beat them. They were escorted upstairs where they were further mistreated and the senior Chabrol bound with ropes. They were then forced to hand over a substantial sum of money, their licensed shotgun and a revolver with matching ammunition.

By then neighbours alerted the police who responded within ten minutes. The place was dark which made it difficult for the lawmen to locate the bandits, but as the officers approached the yard, the bandits opened fire.

An eyewitness told this newspaper that for about ten minutes there were intermittent gunshots as the exchange between the bandits and the police intensified. The ranks reportedly sent for backup. Stabroek News was told that officers encircled Chabrol's business place, resulting in the bandits having to scale a fence in a bid to escape. Once they scaled the fence they entered the stockyard, where they were again confronted by the police who had another exchange of gunshots with them. It was at this point that Chowtie was hit, but it was too dark for them to find him.

By this time his accomplice had ducked under some thick moss in a trench only to be pulled out of the water.

Knowing that the other man was still around the policemen continued their search throughout the night, but were unable to locate him.

At the Chabrol home yesterday, their son told this newspaper that in the assault Sunday night, his parents suffered several bruises.

The Success poultry farm has been in operation for about 50 years and Sunday's attack was the first.

A press release late last evening from the Guyana Police Force Public Relations Office said, following the shooting the police maintained a cordon and search of the area. They unearthed one 22 Rossi revolver with five live rounds, one 22/20 savage combination shotgun with one live cartridge, one AK 47 Assault rifle, two matching magazines and 57 live 7.62 x 39 ammunition, one 32 Taurus Pistol with 11 matching rounds, one 32 spent shell, a large quantity of local and foreign currency, 17 ounces of raw gold, two pairs of black gloves, a wallet containing a national identification card and firearm licence and one holster and a hood among other items. Stabroek News understands some $2.8M and US$1,750 were found at the scene. The release added that a check of the licence confirmed that the .32 Taurus Pistol, found at the scene belonged to Chowtie.

Over recent weeks there has been an increase in criminal activities along the East Coast. A number of grocery stores have been robbed and households attacked.