Bandits attack Freddie Kissoon, hijack vehicle
Stabroek News
March 28, 2004
Two bandits pounced on University of Guyana lecturer Freddie Kissoon yesterday morning near his Hadfield Street home and drove away in his vehicle.
Kissoon was treated at a city hospital and received stitches for wounds to his head while two of his fingers were broken as a result of the struggle. His car was found abandoned in Charlestown three hours later.
Recounting the incident after returning home from the hospital, Kissoon said that unlike most Saturdays when he usually left home a bit late he had decided to visit the National Park with his wife Janet.
He said his SUV (sports utility vehicle) was parked in his mother-in-law's garage that is opposite his home. At around 6 am, Kissoon said, he went to her garage, opened the car door and started the engine before climbing in.
Once inside and with the door still open, Kissoon said he felt someone tap him on the shoulder and he turned around to see an armed robber.
"Without thinking I knocked the gun away and attempted to flee the vehicle. Then I received a lash to my head. A struggle then ensued between me and the armed man. He dealt me another lash to the head with the gun but I managed to slip past him and made a dash when the other man cornered me. I received yet another lash and they got in my vehicle and started driving away."
Kissoon said that he attempted to stop the vehicle by holding onto one of the back door handles but the men drove away. It was then he raised an alarm alerting neighbours.
Kissoon said that he immediately alerted the police and search parties were sent out, in addition to the heightened police presence on the East Bank and East Coast Public Roads. Relatives also joined in the search for the vehicle.
He said that his young nephew later found the car abandoned in Charlestown and the police were called. However, his attackers are still on the run.
Kissoon said that it did not appear to have been a planned robbery. He reasoned that the men were passing at the time and saw an opportunity so they tried something.
He said that had the men been following his daily routine they would have known that he seldom left home early on Saturday mornings.
Kissoon described the attack as "funny" and said his late-night walks on the seawall and early morning strolls in the National Park had always been trouble-free.
He said that coming from a background of adventure and struggles, the incident had not traumatised him. Kissoon pointed out that he is yet to sit and analyse every aspect of the incident before reasoning on it conclusively.
That was the first time Kissoon was attacked. He said that he has lived on Hadfield Street most of his life.
Last Thursday morning three armed men stormed into a Hadfield Street home and carted off $1M in articles.