Rondel Richardson, 29, of Craig Village, East Bank Demerara (EBD) and Ronald Barker, 49, of South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, were jointly slapped with a joint armed robbery charge and were remanded to prison. Richardson and Barker were arrested on Thursday, August 13, 2026, and subsequently charged on Monday. They appeared before Magistrate Caressa Henry at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court, where the charge was read to them. Both men pleaded not guilty and were remanded to prison until September 23, 2026. It was reported that on Thursday a 30-year-old gold miner of St Ignatius Village, Central Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), was at a shop at 14 Miles, Issano Landing, when he was approached by the two suspects. During the incident, one of the men was reportedly armed with a handgun, and several rounds were discharged. The victim was allegedly assaulted and relieved of his wallet containing approximately $130,000, after which the suspects escaped on a motorcycle. The victim was subsequently found injured and taken to the Mahdia Regional Hospital, where he was admitted. However, acting on information received, police subsequently apprehended the two suspects at 14 Miles Backdam. Further investigations led to another location in the area, where a Glock pistol, one magazine, and three live rounds of ammunition were recovered. A 32-year-old gold miner of Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was taken into custody.