The sister of Mohamed Shameer, the Pomeroon River boat collision victim whose decomposing remains were found buried in a shallow grave more than 60 miles from the scene, is continuing to question the delay in the filing of charges by police against two suspects.
Speaking with Stabroek News recently, a distraught Khirool Noorajhan once again expressed her dissatisfaction with the pace of the investigation. “I cannot understand what is taking so long. It has been two months and I want to know if we gon get justice,” the woman said. She related that her 83-year-old mother is particularly hard-hit by the tragedy and had to seek medical attention on several occasions.
The boat collision occurred on the night of April 25 at Jacklow, Pomeroon. 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 that day to visit a friend. It would appear that he was on his way back home when he was run over by a boat.
Police were later led to a site in Moruca, more than 60 miles away, where Shameer’s body was found gutted and covered with tree branches. Despite being told that the body was transported there and buried and given details of everything that transpired prior to this, police have not laid any charge against the suspects. It was a man who was in the boat that collided with the vessel Shameer was in, who provided details to the police. The man not only implicated himself but also a boat builder who was operating the other boat involved in the collision.
More than two months after the incident, no charges have been laid and Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum told Stabroek News a week and a half ago that the file was with the Force’s legal advisor. Stabroek New was unable to confirm if it is still there.
Noorajhan told Stabroek News that the two men – including the boat builder who is Shameer’s nephew – are going about their normal routine while her family is suffering. The woman said that the police’s slothfulness is testimony that there is no respect for life and the suffering relatives who are left behind.
“If Shameer had done that and attempted to dispose of the body, for sure he would have been charged for murder already and the family wouldn’t have had to beg for justice,” she said. Noorajhan declared that it is unfair to just release two suspects when a man is dead and then have the investigation dragging out for weeks. She related that when she inquired about the matter recently, the police told her that it was the “advisor.”
“Why is it taking so long? Every day that go by we just grieving,” she said.
There was a delay in the file being completed because investigators were awaiting the submission of a statement from the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD). That statement was handed over to the police three Fridays ago and thereafter, the file was sent to the legal adviser.
“Time is going and nothing is happening and we want fuh know if we are gonna be on the losing side because from the beginning yuh see wha happening…,” Noorajhan said. She recalled that within days of the mishap, the two suspects were released on bail and it was only on her insistence that one was rearrested. It was he who later led police to Moruca where the body was found.
Noorajhan said in addition to the two suspects, there is one other person who should be arrested.
The woman insisted that someone has to be held accountable for what has happened because Shameer could not have gotten up after the collision and walked to Moruca to bury himself under tree branches. Stabroek News was shown a photograph of the scene which showed Shameer’s foot sticking out. Another taken after the branches were removed, showed that he was clad only in his pants. His shirt, hat and shoes were missing.
Noorajhan insisted that someone had to have transported her brother to the location and the police have been provided with that information. The woman emphasised that even if Shameer died following the collision, he should have been taken to the hospital or the police station, both of which are located on the way to Moruca.
She said that no one has the right to dispose of a body and she does not buy the explanation that this was done out of panic.
The woman called on the police to revisit the area where the collision occurred and speak with residents who have vital information. She said that persons may have been afraid in the beginning of coming forward and providing a statement but now they realise that an injustice has been done and are more interested in speaking to the police.
Meantime, Noorajhan related that detectives from CID Headquarters had travelled to the Essequibo Coast and spoken with the boat builder’s friend who had led ranks and relatives to the body. She expressed disappointment that the ranks did not journey to Moruca to get an idea of the distance which had to be covered to get there, as well as the time it would have taken.
The woman said she is trying hard to push this matter for the safety of her mother. She said that the elderly woman screams and cries all the time and is now suffering from high blood pressure. “Like I getting scared now…like nothing nah gon come off (out) of this,” Noorajhan said even as she added that if she does not get an answer, she plans to seek an audience with higher authorities.
