Three persons, including a 17-year-old, were today charged in the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court for the brutal robbery and murder of Chinese national and businessman Chen Yongping at Cumberland Village, East Canje, Berbice.
The accused are the 17-year-old of Burn Bush Dam, Canje, along with 29-year-old Peter Baker of Fort Ordinance Housing Scheme, East Canje, and 29-year-old Colwin Morris of the same community. They appeared before Magistrate Michelle Mathias, where the capital offence was read to them jointly.
Colwin Morris (Left) and Peter Baker (Right) being escorted to the prison.
It is alleged that on December 22, 2025, during the course or furtherance of a robbery at Lot 21, Cumberland Village, East Canje, the trio murdered 61-year-old businessman Chen Yongping. The accused were not required to plead to the charge.
All three were remanded to prison, and the matter was transferred to the Reliance Magistrate’s Court for January 14, 2026. Baker and Morris were represented by Attorney-at-Law Chandra Sohan.
The accused were arrested as investigations intensified into the early-morning robbery and murder which occurred at about 05:00 hrs on December 22, 2025. Police investigations revealed that Chen Yongping and another Chinese national, 32-year-old Chen Dongrong, both businessmen of the same address, had left Cumberland Village around 03:00 hrs to conduct business at the Port Mourant Market on the Corentyne.
Upon returning home, they were reportedly pounced upon by two identifiable males armed with knives, who robbed them of cash and mobile phones. Chen Yongping was relieved of an iPhone 12 Pro Max valued at $322,000 along with an undetermined sum of cash, while Chen Dongrong was robbed of $150,000 in cash and an iPhone 12 Pro Max valued at $342,000.
During the violent ordeal, both men sustained multiple injuries, including stab wounds, and were rushed to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital for medical treatment. Chen Yongping succumbed to his injuries while receiving care, while Chen Dongrong, who suffered a fractured skull, was admitted to Ward 8 and later discharged.
Based on intelligence gathered, Police arrested the three suspects on December 29, 2025. They were cautioned and interviewed, during which investigators said admissions were made.
A post-mortem examination was conducted on December 24, 2025, between 09:00 hrs and 09:30 hrs at Bailey’s Funeral Home by Government Pathologist Dr. V. Brijmohan. The body was identified by the deceased’s wife, Wu Xiao Fen, in the presence of Police ranks.
The cause of death was determined to be shock and haemorrhage due to three stab wounds. Following the examination, the body was handed over to relatives for burial.
Police investigations into the matter are continuing.
