Police have detained “someone very close” to cambio dealer Totaram Mohotoo and are hoping that this person can provide some clues about who murdered the businessman and his wife before setting fire to their Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara home.
This is the most significant move that the police have made since the incident occurred last Friday morning.
A senior police official told Stabroek News today that the suspect who was arrested on Wednesday may be a “critical part” of the investigation. Sources say this person may not have had a direct hand in the murder or the fire but may have information that could lead to those who are responsible.
Stabroek News was told that the person held handled most of Mohotoo’s business.
Post-mortem examinations conducted on Monday revealed that Mohotoo called “Beer” and “Fat man”, age 54, died as a result of smoke inhalation compounded by blunt trauma, while Bhagwattie popularly called ‘Dolly’, 48, died of blunt trauma to the back compounded by smoke inhalation. The couple was cremated on Wednesday.
Police had said in their press release that around 00:35 hours last Friday, the charred remains of Mohotoo called ‘Beer’ and ‘Fat man’ and his wife of Area Q, Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara were found in the bedroom of the upper flat of their home.
Stabroek News had been told by residents that loud explosions sounding like gunshots or squibs were heard and shortly afterwards a security guard started shouting for fire.
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.
