Small-scale gold miners pistol-whipped, shot and robbed

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Sunday, May 04, 2003 By: David Coleman

Two small-scale gold miners have been seriously injured, one with gunshot wounds, and robbed of 30 million bolivares (US$19,000) in a raid on a house on Avenida Perimetral district of Parques del Sur in Ciudad Bolivar, southeastern Venezuela.

The men, named as Alirio (28) and Sergio Bravo (31) were pistol-whipped by at least three robbers who surprised them as they sorted nuggets in their La Sabanita workshop.  The attackers escaped in a 4WD Blazer with 30 million bolivares in cash.

"The first thing I saw was the muzzle of a 3.6 mm pistol in my face ... I tried to escape and call for help, but they beat me to the ground with the butts of their guns and shot at my brother (Sergio) who was hit by one of the bullets."

Ciudad Bolivar detectives have secured forensic evidence at the scene of the shooting and expect to make arrests over the course of the weekend.