By Nafeeza Yahya

POLICE have arrested one of the key suspects in the murder of three Berbice men, whose bodies were found last Friday morning aback Black Bush Polder.The suspect was said to have been in hiding but Police managed to apprehend him Tuesday. The suspect, a rice farmer, is now in Police custody along with two of his workers.

A source close to the investigation has confirmed that the farmer has had brushes with the law and owns several plots of land in the vicinity of the area where the men were killed by a single bullet, shot executive style at point blank range.

Police sources indicated that the farmer is a licensed firearm holder, and owns a shotgun, the same type of weapon that was used in the murder. The firearm was seized for ballistic tests.

The bodies of Pawan Chandradeo, 37, called “Suresh” and “Jug Up”; his son Jaikarran Chandradeo, 16, called “Kevin”, and his brother-in-law Naresh Rooplall, 35, called “Teeka Bai” and “Mice” were discovered in the Cookrite Creek Savanah on Friday morning by farmers.

The men were on an overnight fishing trip when they were shot dead.

According to sources, seven of the ten persons who were in custody have been released on $50,000 bail each. A total of six persons are currently in custody.

Meanwhile, the government has pledged assistance to the family.

Director of Health Services Region #6, Jevaughn Stephens was on hand to check on the families as they prepare for the funeral of the three men. Stephens expressed condolences to the family on behalf of the President of Guyana David Granger and the government.

Also present was Gobin Harbajan the Regional representative for the office of the Prime Minister, as well as Mohin Persaud of the Nand Persaud Group of Companies. Both men made financial contributions on behalf of themselves and their offices to the family.

The funeral for the victims is set for today at 13:00 hrs, after which they will be interned at the Babu John.