Victims of Stabroek Market July heist claiming $100M

The blow-torched safe of Dhanpaul Jewellery at Stabroek Market (Ken Moore photo)

Pix taken from Stabroek News

TWO of the stallholders, who suffered loss in the multi-million-dollar heist at Stabroek Market in Georgetown last July 10, have sued the Town Clerk and Mayor and City Council (M&CC) for damages in excess of $100M.

Sharda Jairam and Dhanpaul Nandlall, through Attorneys-at-law Mr Anil Nandlall and Ms Shannon Rameshwar, filed writs in the Supreme Court Registry earlier this week.

The plaintiffs are merchants of gold and diamond jewellery and tenants occupying stalls E1/255 in Section One and 19 in Section Three 3, respectively.

Their statements of claim said the M&CC, by its servants/agents, were guilty of negligence in that they failed:

* to maintain and provide reasonably safe premises for the plaintiff to do business and store their valuables and stock-in-trade;

* to take any or adequate precautions for the safety of the plaintiffs' property when requested to;

* to keep any or proper lookout;

* to permit the plaintiffs to retain a private firm to provide security for the their property when requested to;

* to provide sufficient competent security personnel to protect the plaintiffs' property and

* by resaon of the negligence, the plaintiffs suffered severe financial loss and damage.

Jairam is claiming special damages for G$20M in gold and diamond jewellery, G$700,000, Cdn$3,000 and US$2,000 in cash, as well as G$400,000, being the cost of one vault which was completely destroyed.

Rameshwar's special damages claim lists G$40M in gold and diamond jewellery and G$550,000 being the value of another completely destroyed vault.

Jairam and Rameshwar complained that, pursuant to its powers of control, supervision and direction, the City Council determines the opening and closing hours at Stabroek Market and provides security through the City Constabulary and its various other officers.

However, about 2 a.m. on July 10, persons unknown broke and entered the plaintiffs' stalls and stole a quantity of gold and diamond jewels and money while approximately five security guards were stationed at the market, the palintiffs stated.