Three persons said to be close to murdered cambio dealer Totaram Mohotoo were being grilled by police up to late last evening and it is hoped that they can provide investigators with some leads.
Crime chief Seelall Persaud told reporters yesterday afternoon that “we have three persons in custody…we are continuing investigations into that matter”.
Stabroek News had been told that one of the persons detained was “someone very close” to Mohotoo and would often handle his business. That person who was arrested on Wednesday is being treated as a “critical part” of the investigation as he may be able to provide information that could lead to those responsible for killing the businessman and his wife Bhagwattie before setting their home alight.
During the wee hours of Friday last, neighbours were awakened by loud explosions. On looking out, fire was spotted coming from the front section of the couple’s Area Q, Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara home. Shortly after that there was a loud explosion which caused a huge hole in the front of the house.
Residents were unaware that the couple was in the home and it was only after firemen extinguished the blaze that they found them badly burnt on what was once their bed.
A post-mortem examination 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. Mohotoo’s hands were tied behind his back when he was found. The couple was cremated on Wednesday.
There are reports that a fallout over outstanding monies might have been the motive for the killings. Persons in the area spotted two suspicious cars in the area that night. One was a white Mazda with tinted windows which was seen speeding out of the street seconds after a loud explosion was heard.
