Two more persons have been questioned in relation to the execution of political activist Courtney Crum-Ewing, according to Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum, who says that a file will be sent for legal advice shortly.
Police had earlier detained and questioned two other persons in connection with this high profile investigation. One is on remand on a gun-related matter while the other was released after several days in detention.
It had been reported that the police were looking for a third individual.
Asked whether that third person had been arrested, Blanhum did not clearly state but said that two other persons were questioned during the course of this week. He did not give the precise day or days on which these interviews took place but said that the two individuals were not arrested. “They were just questioned,” he said.
Police officials said that they made a breakthrough in the investigation a couple of weeks ago after they allegedly found a gun in a Riverview, Ruimveldt home. Ballistics tests conducted on the weapon later confirmed that it was used in the Crum-Ewing shooting.
Regan Rodrigues, in whose home the weapon was reportedly found, turned himself over to police a day later and was charged with unlawful possession of the gun and placed before the court the following day. He was remanded to prison and is scheduled to make his second court appearance on August 4.
Rodrigues, in a recorded conversation, has alleged that he was offered $3 million to kill politician Mark Benschop, after which he would have been given another job. It is believed that after Benschop, next in line was Crum-Ewing. It is being alleged too that police were informed about the plot before and after Crum-Ewing was killed but nothing was done.
Last week, police detained Rajput Narine, the former bodyguard of the former Attorney-General Anil Nandlall in connection with the probe. Nandlall has since distanced himself from the man who he claims he fired four days into the job because he was leaking information on their whereabouts to unknown individuals. Nandlall said though that after the murder he was told that he should get security both at his home and for his person. He said he hired Narine based on a recommendation which was made but did no background checks on the man given that he was a former CANU officer and a licensed firearm holder.
Narine has since been released and according to sources has gone into hiding as his life has been threatened. The man, according to reports, denied any involvement in either a plot to kill Benschop or in the killing of Crum-Ewing.
Stabroek News has since been told that when he was arrested he was told that it was in connection with the Crum-Ewing probe. However while in custody no such allegation was put to him. Instead a confrontation was held between him and Rodrigues during which the latter made certain allegations.
Crum-Ewing, a father of three, was shot dead on March 10th, while urging residents of Diamond, East Bank Demerara to head to the polls and vote the PPP/C out of office.
