Investigators probing the murder of 85-year-old Bibi Nasmonisha Ramjit, who was found dead at her La Grange, West Bank Demerara home last month, are collaborating with their counterparts in Suriname in a bid to apprehend persons of interest.
Based on intelligence gathered, police believe that the suspects in the woman’s murder are hiding in Suriname.
Head of the division’s crime unit, Assistant Superintendent of Police Whittaker, told Stabroek News that investigators have received information which has led them to believe the suspects fled to Suriname.
Whittaker also explained that while the police are investigating a murder, they have determined that the motive was robbery. The suspects were unsuccessful in escaping with any valuables as the bounty they were after was discovered by family members.
Police have so far instituted charges against a juvenile suspect, who was arrested in relation the murder during the initial stages of the probe.
The youth was charged on October 30th and made an appearance at the Vreed-en-Hoop Magistrate’s Court. He is scheduled to make his next court appearance on December 3rd.
Ramjit, known as ‘Aunty Bibi’, a shop owner of Old Road, La Grange, was found bound and gagged on Sunday, October 25, by neighbours.
An autopsy confirmed that the woman died as a result of strangulation.
The police had said that at around 3pm on the day in question, a 59-year-old farmer of Schoonord, West Bank Demerara, went to purchase eddoes from Ramjit. As she did not have change for his five thousand dollar note, the farmer told her he would bring the money later and went away.
Around 5pm, the farmer returned to the shop, where he observed the shop door and the back door to the upper flat wide open. He called out several times for Ramjit but got no response.
The farmer, police said, proceeded to the upper flat of the house where he looked into a bedroom and saw the deceased lying motionless on her back in her bed.
According to the woman’s relatives, it was the third occasion for the year that the woman’s home was targeted.
Stabroek News was told that the elderly woman was advised by her children who reside overseas to stop operating the shop and she agreed to do so once all her goods were sold.
This newspaper understands that the elderly woman did not report the previous robberies as she was not aware of any suspects.
