Five arrested over Berbice hotel murders

Five persons have been arrested in connection with the recent murders at the Corentyne hotel where the owner and a guard were found dead.

A source yesterday said that the five persons were arrested based on statements given by persons within the area.

The decomposing bodies of Canadian hotelier Vivekanand Brijbassi, also known as “Vaker”, 71,  and watchman Harry Persaud Prashad, 59, of Number 68 Village, Corentyne, were found bound and gagged in the balcony of the upper flat of the Sunsplash Holiday Beach Resort, located at Number 63 Village, Corentyne.

The police have said that Brijbassi was discovered with two toes from his left foot severed, while Prashad was found with his left foot completely severed from the ankle. 

It is suspected that the men were killed sometime between Thursday, December 19th and Friday, December, 27th.   

Based on post-mortem examinations that were carried out on the men’s bodies at Anthony Funeral Home, located at West Coast Berbice, the men died as a result of shock and haemorrhaging due to multiple injuries sustained.

Stabroek News was previously told that persons in the area are unfamiliar with the men’s daily routine as the hotel is located in a bushy area close to the beach and away from the houses in the community.

The discovery of the men’s bodies was made a week ago after Brijbassi failed to respond to his daughter’s phone calls, which resulted in her contacting someone to visit the location to check on him. After the person visited the area and noticed the stench emanating from the building, he then contacted police, who made the discovery.