As the probe continues into the murder of Mahaicony businesswoman Bibi Shairoon Nesha Ali, who was found bound and gagged in her home earlier this week, police say a third suspect was arrested on Thursday and he has since admitted to being involved in the crime.
A senior police official told Stabroek News yesterday afternoon that the third suspect was arrested on Thursday and apart from confessing to the murder, he also implicated the 14-year-old who was detained for questioning shortly after the discovery of the woman’s body.
The body of Ali, 56, a mother of three who resided alone at Lot 4 Novar, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara, was found on the floor of her bedroom around 6.30 am on Monday. The discovery was made by a young man who relatives sent to the house to make checks, after neighbours reported that Ali had not been seen since Saturday morning.
Shortly after the discovery on Monday, the police arrested the 14-year-old boy after information revealed that he and Ali had an argument a few days prior to the incident. His arrest was followed by that of a 24-year-old fisherman on Tuesday as he had been seen in the company of the minor.
Relatives believed Ali was killed between late Saturday evening and Sunday morning since her body was already in an advanced state of decomposition.
Her sister, Shana Ali, explained to this newspaper that a neighbour called her early Monday morning expressing concern that Ali had not been seen since Saturday and that several calls to her went unanswered. Family members thereafter decided to send the young man, who is known to them, to check on Ali and the discovery was made.
“Neighbours say that the gate did padlock from inside, so we tell the boy when he go and it lock to jump over the fence and go check on she,” Shana Ali said. Upon entering the premises, the young man realised that the back door was open and the house was ransacked. He then discovered Ali lying on the floor of her bedroom with her feet and hands tied with electric wire. There were several marks of violence to her face and chop wounds to her back, the sister said.
Shana Ali related that while she last spoke to her sister on Thursday afternoon, other relatives, who reside overseas, had spoken with her after 7 pm last Saturday.
Relatives also revealed that a quantity of items, including cell phones and phone cards, which Ali sold, were missing and no cash was found in the house.
