The family of slain gold dealer Ricardo Fagundes believes the claims made by Police Sergeant Dion Bascom about a cover-up in the investigation of his murder and is calling on the relevant authorities to stop hiding the “truth”.
Fagundes’ mother, Carol Fagundes, and other relatives yesterday morning held a protest outside of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Eve Leary as they continue to demand justice.
“Stop police corruption. We need answers,” “We need justice for Ricardo Fagundes” and “Justice for Ricardo Fagundes aka Papershorts. Police corruption, Cover up!” were among the messages written on placards they carried.
Carol told Stabroek News that the family believes Bascom’s allegations about corruption within the force and a cover-up in her son’s murder investigation.
She said from inception, the family has been saying there was a cover-up in the case. “I believe whatever Bascom saying is the truth. From day one,” Carol said.
“They need to bring out the truth,” she added.
In a live video, which went viral before it was removed, Bascom said he was tired of hidden corrupt practices involving senior members of the force and cited Fagundes’ case. Bascom alleged that a police officer received $30 million as bribe to bury the matter.
Fagundes, who was a close friend of convicted drug trafficker Roger Khan, was riddled with bullets by two men outside of the Palm Court on the evening of Sunday, March 21, last year.
At the time of the attack, he was approaching a parked vehicle owned by Khan. An autopsy later confirmed that Fagundes was shot about 20 times about his body.
The police recovered 30 spent shells at the scene. Sixteen were from an AK-47 rifle, while the other fourteen were from a 9mm weapon.
Khan would later say he was the intended target of the attack.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum denied claims of a cover-up in the Fagundes murder probe.
He said the Guyana Police Force (GPF) is receiving assistance from an international law enforcement agency in the investigation. “Several foreign experts visited the CID headquarters that is during the initial stage of the probe and provided valuable assistance to our investigators,” Blanhum said.
He added that items recovered from the crime scene were sent overseas for analysis. The police are still awaiting the results. “This is unknown to Mr Bascom,” he said.
“Same persons”
Blanhum further revealed that it was Khan who provided the police with information on two suspects who allegedly murdered Fagundes.
The men were identified as Rondel Bacchus, who was arrested during the probe and later released without being charged.
The other individual was also named. Bascom had said that the man is employed as a private security for a prominent businessman and was identified as the prime suspect in the murder.
Carol yesterday told Stabroek News that the same suspects who were pinpointed by Bascom allegedly killed her son.
“Everybody saying the same thing. Is the same persons that Bascom saying. So we got to wait and see wah is the next move,” she said.
She related that the last update she received from the police on the case was in April last year. “Since then nothing, nothing,” Carol said.
In the live video, Bascom had said he was one of the officers who arrived at the scene following the shooting of Fagundes.
According to Bascom, he and other officers were able to track the phone used by the prime suspect and the calls he made before and after the shooting. “….They use everything and destroy all the evidence but they forget how… technology does wuk,” Bascom said during the live feed.
However, Blanhum said the force did not have any equipment which can carry out the functions cited by Bascom.
