The sister and brother-in-law of Rohan Mangra, the US-based Guyanese who was found in a city hotel days after he was reported missing were yesterday placed on $50,000 bail each after they denied providing the police with false information in relation to the case.
Indira Gainda, 38, and Lalta Gainda, 52, both of Lot 98 UG Road, Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara appeared before Magistrate Alisha George at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court.
They pleaded not guilty to the charge and bail was granted. They were asked to return to court on Friday, May 13th.
Ranks of the Criminal Investigation Department’s (CID) Major Crimes Unit on Wednesday arrested the couple as the investigation into the disappearance of Mangra widened.
During questioning, Stabroek News was informed that Mangra reportedly told detectives that he contacted Indira Gainda and Lalta Gainda on two occasions via telephone and told them he was okay and was with his friends.
However, despite this, Stabroek News was told that Lalta Gainda went ahead and reported him missing to the police and claimed that he had received a photograph of Mangra with his mouth duct-taped.
Twenty-nine-year-old Mangra went missing on March 15 and his family later offered a $1M reward for information on his whereabouts.
Last Saturday, ranks from the CID Major Crimes Unit, acting on intelligence gathered, found him at a hotel on Hadfield Street, Georgetown.
“Mangra, when questioned by investigators revealed that he was not abducted and he went to the hotel of his own free will. He is currently assisting the police with their investigation. The probe is ongoing,” the police had said in a statement.
The statement explained that relatives provided the police with a photograph of Mangra showing his mouth covered with duct tape which they said was sent to them via WhatsApp from an unknown person.
Immediately, ranks from the Major Crimes Unit, were assigned to the investigation and several of Mangra’s associates were arrested and questioned by the ranks. It was during the questioning they gathered valuable intelligence that led to him being located.
Mangra, also known as ‘Paul,’ of Lot 98 UG Road, Cummings Lodge, ECD, was last seen on March 15 when he left home around 8.05 pm.
He was reportedly picked up by a car in front of a printery located at the corner of UG Road and Sixth Street, Cummings Lodge. Since then, he had not returned home and calls to his phone indicated that it was turned off.
Reports are that it was unusual for Mangra to leave home and not return without informing his family. It is unclear whether the individual/s who picked him up in the car has/have been identified.
Stabroek News understands that Mangra was scheduled to return to the US some time ago but extended his stay.
