THE MAIN suspect in the murder of 51-year-old Brazilian national Josimar Perrieria Silva of Boa Vista, Brazil appeared on Friday before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.Joel Olayna Bedlow, a 43-year-old miner of Sophia, Georgetown, was not required to plead to the indictable offence, which alleges that between September 5 and September 6, 2015 at Mowasi Backdam, Mahdia, he murdered Silva.

The miner was remanded to prison and the matter was transferred to the Mahdia Magistrate’s Court for January 26.

According to reports, on the day in question, the miner was working at a mining camp when the suspect held him and another Brazilian at gunpoint. A scuffle reportedly ensued, during which Silva allegedly was hit to the head with a heavy object.

Over the years, Brazilian miners have perished under different circumstances in Guyana’s hinterland, and the deaths of the two men have come amidst renewed concerns about security for miners in the hinterland regions. Many Brazilian miners have been the subject of robberies and killings in mining communities.

Earlier this month, another Brazilian miner was stabbed to death during a robbery at Puruni Backdam, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni). The identity of the dead man was given only as “Brain”. According to information received, the now dead man was working on a mining operation at Puruni Backdam when he was confronted by an armed man, who held him at gunpoint and demanded gold.

The Brazilian national reportedly got into a scuffle with the suspect, during which he was shot to his neck. The suspect then relieved the injured man of a quantity of gold and attempted to escape.

Other persons in the mining camp, upon hearing the sound of the gunshot, reportedly ran towards the mining pit, where they saw “Brian” in a pool of blood and the alleged suspect fleeing the scene.

He was subsequently apprehended and handed over to police.