The burnt remains of a man were recovered yesterday at a camp at the rear of Shieldstown Village, West Bank Berbice and his one-time son-in-law has since been arrested.
The dead man was identified as Abdool Basheer, 61, a pensioner and father of 11, of Lot 4 Shieldstown Village, West Bank Berbice.
Stabroek News was told that Basheer and the suspect would often drink together.
Danwattie Ramkissoon, 49, explained, that her husband left home around 3 pm on Saturday afternoon to head to the backdam to fish and return on Tuesday. “Me husband na been want go the backdam but he [the former son-in-law] tell am let them go that them go catch lil hassar and get lil money,” she recounted to this newspaper. “Me hear he buy three bottle rum and drunk me husband and carry am and before he reach he drunk and me na know wah happen with am a back dam.”
“The boy run out and go station and say me husband get burn up and make the report and the police hold he,” she added.
However, Ramkissoon related that she heard “them buss he like fish and throw away the bottom part and them burn he top part”.
According to information gathered by this newspaper, Basheer was allegedly burnt at a camp at the very rear of the village sometime Saturday evening.
Commander of Region Five Yonette Stephens yesterday confirmed that one person was in custody. She said the matter was only reported on Sunday, after the man now in custody came out from the camp. She added that some bones were discovered and they were taken for a post-mortem examination to be conducted.
Furthermore, the commander noted, that the matter is being investigated as an “incident” until they gather more information.
Additionally, Stabroek News was told that the former in-law has since claimed that “someone” threw “something” into the camp, after which a fire erupted on Saturday evening while he and Basheer were drinking.
Meanwhile, Basheer’s daughter, Bibi Nesha Basheer, 27, stated, that she separated from the suspect some two years ago. “Me know he since he a go mommy them and he a drink and smoke so me lef he. Me and he used to stay in creek but me come out and left he after he a beat me and threaten to kill me,” she said.
However, three months ago she returned to him, she said, prompting the man she had been living with to approach them and plead with her to return home to him and their children. It is alleged that both her father and the suspect assaulted the man, and the two were arrested. They were subsequently released.
