Ranks from the Guyana Police Force Major Crimes Unit have made a major breakthrough in their investigation into the murders of Good Hope, East Bank Essequibo farmers, Mohamed and Jamilla Munir, who were burnt to death eight months ago when bandits broke into their home.
This was confirmed yesterday by Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum, who told Stabroek News that four of six suspects in the matter have since been detained. The breakthrough, he said, followed the arrest of Jason Howard on Wednesday.
“The police were tipped off that he along with the others planned and executed,” the crime committed against the Munirs, Blanhum said.
Howard, 21, of Lot 250 East LaPenitence, George-town, the alleged mastermind, has since admitted his involvement in the gruesome crime. He was arrested on Wednesday afternoon after a high-speed chase by the police, following the attack and robbery of Tower Suites Accountant Baldeo Seegobin. Two men had grabbed $2.9 million from Seegobin right after he returned from Republic Bank on Water Street.
During interrogation, Howard reportedly implicated five other suspects, three of whom were identified as Samsudeen Mohamed, Gavin Shepherd called “Pepsi” or “Deportee”, Joel Blair, and another individual known as “Plang”. Mohamed and “Plang” reside in the same area where the incident occurred.
Three of the suspects were arrested yesterday and have also admitted to the crime. The police are yet to apprehend Shepherd and the driver of the car which transported the men to and from the scene.
Mohamed Munir, 75, and his wife, Jamilla Munir, 70, who were well known rice farmers, were burnt to death in their Good Hope home on the evening of April 17, when bandits broke in and subsequently started a fire, after the couple barricaded themselves in their bedroom.
During the active probe, investigators has worked on a number of theories and a handyman who had worked with the Munirs was among several persons arrested. Those suspects were questioned but were later released, since there was not sufficient evidence linking them to the crime.
Blanhum yesterday once again commended the ranks from the Major Crimes Unit for their hard work and dedication, which has led to the solving of yet another high-profile crime. The head of the Criminal Investigations Department described the crime as a gruesome one, which had shocked the nation.
He said he hoped that those found culpable for the murder of the Munirs will face the full force of the law and the breakthrough will send a strong message to others who might be thinking of criminal activity.
The motive for the crime was robbery, since the suspects reportedly heard that the Munirs had $20 million hidden in their house. The men planned and executed the crime to get the cash but failed and decided to set the house on fire.
Stabroek News was reliably informed that the suspects in custody told investigators that Mohamed, who resides behind the Munirs’ home, was having a discussion with “Plang”, a neighbour of the dead couple during it was said that the Munirs had $20 million concealed in their house.
A series of contact with the other suspects followed, and the men planned the crime after which they went to the Munirs’ house. Three of the suspects—Mohamed, Blair and Howard—allegedly entered the house by piercing the veranda grill, while the other three remained outside on the lookout.
Once inside, they began searching for the money but came up empty-handed. Meanwhile the Munirs were awakened by sounds the men made and raised an alarm, securing themselves in their bedroom. The bandits, who were each armed with handguns, tried to get the Munirs out of the bedroom but also failed. As a result, Howard allegedly lit a fire on a sofa in the living room, and then threw a gas cylinder on the sofa.
The men then ran out of the house and escaped through a cemetery in the compound of a nearby Christian church. They then went to Mohamed’s house and while there, they heard a loud explosion.
Shepherd later picked them up and was told that they got nothing; the men then went their separate ways.
