The Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) has submitted a report of its findings on the circumstances surrounding the death of boat collision victim Mohamed Abdool Shameer to the police and the matter is now engaging the attention of the Force’s legal advisor.
MARAD head Claudette Rogers yesterday clarified that the report was handed over to investigators last Friday. Commander of `G’ Division Kevin Adonis had told Stabroek News late last week that he was told that investigators were awaiting a statement from MARAD which was needed to complete the police file. Adonis said that several weeks ago, following a visit from the dead man’s family, he had contacted his counterparts at Eve Leary who are now handling the matter. It was on that occasion that he was informed that they were awaiting a statement from MARAD.
Relatives had contacted Stabroek News complaining bitterly about the pace of the investigation. Though the collision occurred in the Pomeroon River, police were led to an area more than 60 miles away where Shameer’s half-clothed and decomposing body was found in a shallow grave covered with tree branches. Though police had detained two persons who were travelling in the boat which collided with Shameer’s on the night of April 25, they were released on bail without any charges being laid. Relatives have expressed dissatisfaction at this.
Contacted for an update yesterday, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum would only say that the matter is with the police legal adviser. The Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) indicated that Khirool Noorajhan, the dead man’s sister had visited the office. A statement was taken from her and a request was made for the police to send the file.
Noorajhan had expressed fear that those guilty will go free and she pleaded for charges to be laid so that the family can get justice.
She had recounted that Shameer, a polio victim who farmed to sustain himself, left his Jacklow, Pomeroon home where he lived alone, in a paddle boat at around 7.30pm on April 25 to visit a friend. It would appear that he was on his way back home when he was run over by a boat.
As it turned out, she said, the driver of the other vessel, a boat builder, is a close male relative who was not on speaking terms with Shameer.
The following day, the family received reports of the collision from other relatives and police later arrested the boat builder and the friend who was with him at the time. Noorajhan said the friend was released but it was on her insistence that he was rearrested and further grilled. She said that under pressure, he led police to Moruca where the body was found.
Despite the man providing police with a statement that implicated himself and the boat builder, both men are walking around freely.
Attorney Jerome Khan, who represents the boat builder, has denied that the man was gutted or buried in a shallow grave as told by Noorajhan. In a letter published in Stabroek News, Khan did not deny that his client had collided with Shameer and said nothing about how the body ended up at Moruca.
Yesterday, an upset Noorajhan said the contents of the letter left her in shock as the point is not whether her brother was gutted but rather how it was that he ended up buried more than 60 miles from where the collision occurred. She was present when the body was discovered.
The woman said she had photos to show that Shameer was found buried beneath tree branches. One of those photographs was published in the Sunday Stabroek.
“We have proof he was buried somewhere. There is no doubt that he was buried,” she said.
Noorajhan said that based on her information, the boat builder did not even report the collision but rather went about his life as usual. She said that police should be investigating why no report was made and how it was that the body made it all the way to Moruca in Region 1.
“I haven’t heard anything from anyone. I am just sitting waiting, they (police) say they will call me and onto now I haven’t gotten a call. How long more do I have to wait,” she asked.
Noorajhan, in a previous interview with Stabroek News, had expressed fear of a cover-up. She had also bemoaned the fact that in getting to Moruca, the body would have passed a police station and a hospital.
She remains hopeful that the family will get justice.
