Almost a year after a fire destroyed the upper part of a building at Wismar, Linden which housed the Guyana Elections Com-mission (GECOM) office, police have arrested two suspects who they say have since admitted their involvement in the crime and implicated two others, including the suspected mastermind, who is yet to be arrested.
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum yesterday informed Stabroek News that the two suspects were arrested on Monday.
They have been identified as Teon February called ‘Nut’, 23, a labourer of Canvas City, Wismar Linden and Marlon Hunter called ‘Bushy’, 21, of 4th Street, Silver Town, Wismar, Linden.
During questioning, they implicated two other individuals, one of whom goes by the alias ‘Murgie’ and an official from Linden.
‘Murgie’ reportedly ordered and promised the men the sum of $150,000 once the act was completed. The official is suspected to be the intellectual author of the crime.
Blanhum said ‘Murgie’ was arrested yesterday while investigators are currently pursuing the official.
The fire occurred at Lot 2 Burnham Drive, Wismar, Linden on July 14, 2020. GECOM’s office was situated in the top flat of the building while the lower flat was unoccupied. Nothing was saved.
Stabroek News was previously informed that a female security guard was in the guard hut which is situated at the front of the building when she heard an explosion.
As a result, the woman ventured to the back of the building and upon
checking she saw two men fleeing the scene. An alarm was raised and the Guyana Fire Service was summoned. Quick action by fire-fighters prevented the fire from spreading.
Stabroek News was reliably informed that during a video interview on Wednesday, February reportedly admitted to his involvement in the crime.
Reports are that February alleged that he was contacted by ‘Murgie’ on the night of July 13, 2020, who reportedly told him that he wanted him to burn the building.
He said ‘Murgie’ reportedly told him that the reason for the act was because GECOM was taking too long to swear in former President David Granger.
According to February, he then approached his cousin, Hunter to join him.
On the night in question, this newspaper was told that February related that ‘Murgie’ picked up him and Hunter in a silver motorcar and drove to Burnham Drive where he showed them the building.
February alleged that ‘Murgie’ offered him and Hunter the sum of $150,000 to carry out the act.
As such, he explained that ‘Murgie’ gave them a yellow five-gallon container which contained gasoline that was stored in his car trunk. February further related that he and Hunter hid the gas in some nearby bushes a short distance from the building and went home.
They returned to the scene on foot around midnight. Upon arrival at the scene, he reportedly said that he and Hunter retrieved the gasoline, entered the compound through a side gate and accessed the building from a back door.
According to the police, February said that they went into a room in the upper flat of the building which appeared to be a storeroom where they threw the gasoline and lit the room afire.
After setting the room on fire, February reportedly told police that there was an explosion which caused them to suffer burns about their feet.
At the time of his arrest, there were visible burn marks on Hunter’s feet. The men later escaped using the same route and went home.
After arriving home, February told investigators that three of his cousins were home and he told them about what transpired. One of them, he said insisted that he attend to the burns.
Subsequently, he said ‘Murgie’ came to his home and gave him $75,000 which he gave to Hunter. The following morning, February added that ‘Murgie’ gave him the other half of the money.
Hunter was also questioned during a video recorded interview in which he supported February’s account of what transpired.
February said he saw ‘Murgie’ on several occasions afterwards but they did not speak about the incident.
The men are expected to be charged soon.
