A decomposed body, suspected to be that of a 36-year-old fisherman, was discovered in the Atlantic Ocean, days after he was allegedly tossed overboard by members of his crew.
The body is suspected to be that of Ramdave Ramroop, called ‘Navin,’ of Lusignan, East Coast Demerara (ECD).
Stabroek News was reliably informed that the fatal altercation occurred on Tuesday, August 2 in the Atlantic Ocean, in the vicinity of Success on the East Coast of Demerara.
Ramroop was a crew member on a fishing vessel, ‘Marissa A’.
Police subsequently discovered a decomposed body, suspected to be that of Ramroop, ashore Iron Punt, in the Atlantic Ocean.
DNA samples have been taken for testing.
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum confirmed that two persons, including the 47-year-old boat captain, are currently in police custody as the investigation continues.
Stabroek News has learned that three crew members were initially questioned by the police and they claimed that Ramroop fell overboard while they were throwing their seine to fish.
However, their stories changed after further questioning.
The crew members reportedly told investigators that between 09.00hrs and 10.00hrs on August 2, the boat captain and Ramroop had an argument stemming from the latter’s smoking habit.
As a result, the captain allegedly ordered one of the crew members to tie the anchor rope around Ramroop’s waist and throw him overboard.
After some time, Ramroop pleaded with the captain to be pulled up but his pleas were ignored. As time passed, there was no movement or sound from Ramroop and the captain ordered that Ramroop be pulled up. However, Ramroop’s body was not found.
This newspaper was told that the captain was subsequently contacted and interviewed and he reportedly related that Ramroop’s feet had been wrapped by the seine, causing him to fall overboard.
The captain also reportedly admitted to instructing one of the crew members to throw Ramroop overboard. He told the police that he was just “playing” with Ramroop and did not expect that he would have disappeared.
Ramroop’s mother, Nalini Chaitram, yesterday told Stabroek News that she last saw her son on July 30.
Chaitram said on Wednesday evening she received a call from the captain’s wife, who informed her that Ramroop fell overboard and could not be found.
“The wife called me and tell me that she wanted to see me very important and when I get there she saying my son foot go on the seine and he fall overboard,” Chaitram told this newspaper.
Chaitram added that she was asked to wait since the captain would call to speak to her. When he called, Chaitram said he provided the same account as his wife. “…I said listen to me I won’t buy that. I won’t take that. I said my son can’t lose his life just like that,” the mother recalled.
Frequent beatings
According to Chaitram, Ramroop would often complain to her that the captain would beat him. “He beat my son and that’s my only child,” she cried.
The last complaint she said she received from Ramroop was about two Wednesdays ago. “He (Ramroop) say if he ain’t make a cup of coffee for this man (captain) this man does tek a wood and lash he,” Chaitram related.
She said Ramroop pleaded with her to speak to the captain for him to stop but the captain refused to engage her. As a result, Chaitram said she was planning to go meet the captain when they returned from sea to speak to him. “The Wednesday morning me son call me and beg me fah talk to this man,” Chaitram said.
In the past, Chaitram said the captain also allegedly threatened to kill Ramroop. “I didn’t expect this would have happened. That he would have lose his life…I can’t believe it,” she cried.
