The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is presently reviewing the police file on the probe of the death of Mohamed Shameer, a Pomeroon River boat collision victim who was found buried in a shallow grave more than 60 miles from the scene of the accident.
The DPP’s Chambers yesterday confirmed that the file was received on June 27 and is now engaging its attention.
Following a complaint lodged by Shameer’s sister, Khirool Noorajhan, the DPP requested the file from the police. This, however, took some time as the file was sent to the police’s legal adviser for her perusal.
The boat collision occurred on the night of April 25 at Jacklow, Pomeroon. Shameer, a polio victim who farmed to sustain himself, had left his Jacklow, Pomeroon home in a paddle boat around 7.30pm to visit a friend. It would appear that he was on his way back home when he was run over by a larger boat, which was piloted by his nephew. The two were not on speaking terms. The nephew and two other persons were travelling together when the mishap occurred. No police report was made after the collision occurred.
Police, after eventually learning of the accident, arrested Shameer’s nephew and his friend, who was a passenger in the boat at the time of the accident, and also questioned several others.
It is the friend who would later lead police to a site in Moruca, more than 60 miles away from the scene of the collision, where Shameer’s body was found. It was gutted and covered with tree branches.
Despite being provided with details of everything that transpired prior to the discovery and the parties who were involved, the police did not lay charges.
Instead, the nephew and his friend were released on bail and the investigation was handed over to the Maritime Administration.
Noorajhan, the dead man’s sister, has repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of the investigation. She said that the delay in justice is making her elderly mother ill and that all the family wants is for those responsible for the boat collision and efforts to conceal Shameer’s body to be brought to justice.
