Two employees of Mohamed’s Enterprise have been dismissed and suspended respectively for their role in the recent beating and torturing of three security guards, the business’s owner Nazar Mohamed said yesterday as he apologized publicly for the incident.
The other two offenders, who are attached to a private security company, have been instructed never to return to the Lombard Street location.
An apologetic Mohamed contacted Stabroek News yesterday and repeatedly stressed that he was devastated when he read about the incident in this newspaper. At the time, he was overseas.
Mohamed told Stabroek News that it was a daughter who resides in the USA who drew his attention to the newspaper article.
“I am really devastated by this incident. I have been in business for 30 years and have dealt with all sorts of decisions. Sometimes you make tough decisions but we were never involved in or supported this [beating of employees]”, he said.
He explained to Stabroek News that when he arrived back in the country on Tuesday morning he immediately ordered his chief security officer to investigate the matter and submit a report.
It was based on the findings that one employee was dismissed while a second was suspended for one week.
Mohamed further explained that the other two persons worked for a private security firm, which would lend support to the business from time to time.
He said he has spoken to the Chief Executive Officer of that firm and has indicated that those guards are never to return to Mohamed’s Enterprise.
The businessman also apologized to this newspaper for the way his son and employees handled the matter when approached for a comment.
After issuing a public apology, he assured this newspaper that “it will never happen again”.
Meanwhile, Mohamed said, he has since managed to make contact with two of the guards and has indicated to them that he will “take care of all medical bills”. In addition, he said, at a later stage, there will be discussions on remuneration and jobs.
On November 20, security supervisor, 63-year-old Bansgopaul Sookhraj of Lot 10 Camp Street along with Imtiaz Bacchus of Albouys Street, Albouystown and Ousman Boodhoo Sahadeo, 59, of Middle Road were repeatedly struck with a baseball bat, had soapy water poured into their mouths and were gagged and bound with scotch tape before being threatened not to report the matter. The men had said that they were brutalized by four persons who were later arrested by police after a report was made to the Brickdam Police Station.
The three men had detailed to this newspaper how they were held captive at the Lombard Street location and tortured for several hours after being accused by the quartet of stealing from the business place.
However, the men only spent a few hours in police custody after the three men accepted hefty sums to drop the matter. They said they were approached by a lawyer at the police station and following discussions with her, various sums were reached.
Sookhraj who sustained the worst injuries; broken hands and swelling to the head received the larger portion. Bacchus sustained five fractured ribs and a badly swollen right foot while Sahadeo called ‘Fat boy’ sustained black and blue marks on both arms, had trouble hearing and sight in his left eye which is swollen had been affected.
