The suspect in the murder of gold miner Roland Kanhai, who was believed to have been fatally beaten in a robbery last week, has been arrested and police say he has since confessed to the crime.
A police source told Sunday Stabroek that the 26-year-old pork-knocker, of Agricola, East Bank Demerara, was arrested on Friday at Mahdia, Region Eight.
The source said that the suspect has since provided investigators with a statement in which he confessed to the crime.
The suspect reportedly told investigators that he was at a shop with his girlfriend on February 29 when Kanhai, who was intoxicated, came up to him and allegedly interfered with her.
As a result, the suspect said he became angry and dealt Kanhai a blow to his face. As a result, he said, Kanhai fell to the ground and hit his head.
The police are preparing to send their findings for legal advice.
Kanhai, 59, a resident of Lot 8 Cotton Field, Essequibo, succumbed at the Georgetown Public Hospital last Tuesday, days after he was beaten.
The police had previously said that several persons were questioned and it was alleged that Kanhai was beaten and robbed sometime between 8 pm on Friday, February 28, and 5.30 am on Saturday, February 29 on the 111 Public Road, Mahdia. Kanhai was seen drinking at a food mart in the community. He was later discovered lying in an unconscious state along the public road by a co-worker.
Kanhai was taken to the Mahdia Hospital and was subsequently transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he succumbed.
