As the police await legal advice, they were yesterday granted an extension to keep the suspects in the triple murder at Mibicuri, Black Bush Polder, in custody for three more days.
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum informed Stabroek News that the initial detention period for the trio had expired and an application was made to the High Court for additional time, which was granted. He said the case file was already sent for legal advice, which is still pending.
The three men in custody are Carlton Chaitram, 37, known as ‘Lyma’; his son, Jairam Chaitram, 17; and Tameshwar Jagmohan, 18, known as ‘Guana,’ of Mibicuri South, Black Bush Polder. A fourth suspect, Rakesh Karamchand, 27, known as ‘Go-To-Front,’ of Sheet Anchor, Canje, is being sought by the police in connection with the murders. Up to late yesterday, he had not been arrested.
Pawan Chandradeo, 37; his son, Jaikarran Chandradeo, 15; and Naresh Rooplall, 33 were found dead at Kokerite Savannah, Mibicuri Creek last Friday, less than a day after they left to go on a fishing trip.
The three bodies had one gunshot wound each. Post-mortem examinations revealed that Pawan Chandradeo sustained a laceration to his head resulting in a fractured skull and he subsequently died of shock and haemorrhaging.
The other two also died of shock and haemorrhaging.
A team from the police force’s Georgetown-based Major Crimes Unit, which has been leading the investigation, made a major breakthrough on Wednesday night when one of the suspects started to release vital pieces of information. In all, seven suspects had been transported to Police Headquarters, Eve Leary, where they were being grilled by the sleuths.
Stabroek News was told that a mission to steal fuel was at the centre of the gruesome murders.
Based on what the investigators were told, the three were shot dead out of fear that the identities of the fuel thieves would be revealed. The shooting occurred after two warning shots were fired in the air to scare off the trio. This account is consistent with what the lone survivor, 11-year-old Alvin Chandradeo, had told investigators. The boy who was left behind at a camp, recalled that around 10 pm, while he awaited the return of his relatives, he heard two gunshots, followed by another gunshot a short while after.
A source had told this newspaper that the three victims started to run and the fuel thieves chased after them. One of the suspects reportedly told the police that after the victims realised they knew the men chasing them, they stopped running.
The men caught up with them and shot them.
