Relatives of the Mohotoos, who were found burnt to death inside their Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara home, went into panic mode yesterday after reports surfaced of suspicious men and a car matching the description of one seen speeding away from the house after explosions were heard.
One terrified relative related that they were inside the burnt-ut structure earlier in the day when they saw two masked men. She said she and other relatives hid.
Stabroek News was told that after police removed their crime scene tape, relatives of cambio dealer Totaram Mohotoo and his wife Bhagmattie decided to look inside. It was then that they reportedly saw the suspicious men and later got information that a strange white car was in the area. Stabroek News had been told that a white Mazda with tinted windows and bearing a number plate in the PPP series had been seen speeding out of the area early Friday morning after the fire was spotted. There is only one road leading out of the community.
Tents and chairs which were set up in front of the house, apparently for a wake, were removed before nightfall yesterday.
When Stabroek News visited the area a police vehicle with several heavily armed ranks was exiting the street. Behind it was a car transporting relatives of the dead woman. They said that they were in a hurry and could not speak. Meanwhile, Police Commissioner (ag) Leroy Brumell told Stabroek News yesterday that he had not been updated on the investigations but knew the police were awaiting the results of post-mortem examinations to determine how the couple died. The examinations are expected to be conducted tomorrow.
Brumell said it could be that the couple was shot before the house set afire since two explosions were first heard. “I don’t know if they were shot or what but we have to wait on the post mortems,” he said.
Asked about motive, he said that was so far unclear, but the day before he died, Totaram was reportedly in the company of persons of a questionable character.
“We’re hoping that someone can give us a lead,” the commissioner said, adding that people are only talking about what they heard; no one is coming forward.
Brumell expressed hope that investigators can get to “the bottom of this”.
Police had said in their press realese that around 00:35 hrs the charred remains of Totaram Mohotoo called `Beer’ and `Fat man’, 54, and Bhagmattie Mohotoo called `Dolly’, 48, of Area Q, Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara were found in the bedroom of the upper flat of their home. The release said the home had been destroyed by “a fire of so far unknown origin” adding that investigations were in progress.
Based on what Stabroek News was told by residents loud explosions sounding like gunshots or squibs were heard and shortly after that a security guard started shouting for fire. Prior to that the guard had seen a taxi blowing and waiting in front of the Lot 22 address for about 15 minutes before it drove off.
After the explosion was heard, a huge hole appeared in the front wall of the house. This newspaper was later told that a gas bottle was the possible cause of that explosion as fragments of the bottle were found in the bedroom.
At the time, persons did not know that the couple was home since calls went unanswered. A car belonging to them was parked in the yard.
Fire fighters from the three fire units that responded managed to put out the blaze and it was while combing the interior of the house that the fire officials found the remains of the couple. They had been burnt beyond recognition and Totaram’s hands were tied behind his back. His wife was lying next to him.
Totaram had been previously charged with murder but was acquitted.
