There has been no sign of a Corentyne money changer three days after his disappearance, but his family continues to hope for positive news.
Mohammed Fizal Mamood Baksh, 56, called ‘Sugar Cake’ of Lot 5 Grant 1780 Crabwood Creek was last seen on Monday morning. Baksh reportedly left home sometime around 8.10 am to exchange some currency at Number 65 village and was never seen or heard from again.
His brother, Mohammed Jaboor Baksh, told this newspaper that around 4 pm on Monday, his brother’s wife started to get worried after his brother didn’t return home at the usual time.
Fizal Mamood Baksh
The brother explained that before Baksh left home for his usual daily routine, a man identified as Kevin Budhoo who normally sells next to him called him and told him about two foreigners who had some currency to change.
With that the money changer went to Number 65 Village with the intention of doing business. Stabroek News was told that Budhoo had been calling Baksh since Saturday last to carry out the transaction.
The brother of the missing man said he would normally return home around 1 – 2 pm. After that time passed, his wife called friends and family to find out where her husband was but received no positive response. She reportedly called Budhoo, who informed her that they were in Rose Hall and would be home shortly.
Jaboor said hours passed and further calls to Budhoo went unanswered. They did not hesitate to inform the police although Baksh had not yet been gone for 24 hours. Stabroek News was told that after the report was made on Monday night, a police officer called Budhoo and summoned him to the station the following morning. However, he did not show up, although he kept telling Baksh’s wife via phone calls he would be there shortly. Budhoo has also not been seen or heard from since.
Jaboor explained that their investigation revealed that Budhoo rented a car from a popular car rental in Skeldon for a day, but returned the car within two hours. Further investigations by the police revealed that when the car was returned there was a sum of cash inside, but the car owner did not question it.
Baksh’s family has expressed dissatisfaction that the police have not grilled Budhoo’s family more. Jaboor also stated that had the police acted as soon as the report was made, rather than waiting for the stipulated 24 hours to expire, they might have been able to crack the case.
‘B’ Division Deputy Commander Superintendent Errol Watts told Stabroek News via telephone that they are still treating it as a missing person’s report.
Searches for Baksh were made in the environs of Crabwood Creek, Skeldon and other coastal communities to no avail.
Persons with information on the whereabouts of Mohamed Baksh can contact relatives on telephone numbers 604-2681 or 335-0082 or the nearest police station.
