The two men held in relation to last Friday’s execution of businessman Leonard Mahadeo have been released from custody and according to Crime Chief Seelall Persaud a third man is still being questioned by investigators.
Stabroek News was reliably informed that the men, an ex-policeman and the other a well-known East Bank Demerara businessman, were arrested by police shortly after they left the crime scene, where they had gone seeking information about the shooting.
When contacted yesterday, Persaud would only say that one of the three men is closely associated with Mahadeo. He explained that the investigators were forced to release two of the men on station bail, since the maximum period during which the police could hold them without charge had expired. The third man, he added, was arrested on Monday.
The crime chief could not say how many times Mahadeo called ‘Lenny’ a Diamond, New Scheme resident was shot but said that multiple gunshots as stated by the pathologist, “provides us with a information that helps to identify a line of inquiry.” This newspaper was reliably informed that he sustained about eight gunshots, mostly to the chest.
Ballistic evidence recovered at the crime scene, he said, has suggested that a 7.62 calibre rifle was one of the weapons used. However, he stressed that police are still at the stage where information is being gathered. Police are also seeking a getaway car, which witnesses said was used by the gunmen.
Persaud said Mahadeo was known to be associated with persons who were suspected to be involved in drug trafficking.
Mahadeo had been acquitted after a trial in 1996 for charges stemming from his alleged involvement in an international cocaine racket. Senior police officials have said that he had always been on their radar in cocaine busts, but there was never enough evidence to lay charges against him.
He had been the victim of an execution attempt in 2008 at Kitty. Police officials following his death would only say that his killing was drug related and pointed to a possible fall out between him and key players in the drug trade.
Based on eye witnesses’ accounts, the father of six had been the lone customer at the Soca Paradise Bar, at Old Road, Eccles when the two gunmen walked in and opened fire on him.
Stabroek News was told that from all appearances the man was expecting someone as he constantly checked his watch and kept looking at the door. When the gunmen came, he did not scream for help, although he saw their weapons.
