…four in police custody

FOUR men are in police custody as new information has surfaced into the death of the elderly rice-farming couple, Mohamed Munir and his wife, Bibi Jamila, who were burnt to death in

their Good Hope, East Bank Essequibo home in April.

Crime Chief, Wendell Blanhum confirmed that the men are in custody as the police investigation continues. Munir, 75, and his Bibi, 69, perished shortly after 23.00 hrs on April 17, 2017, after they were trapped in the raging fire which destroyed their heavily grilled, two-storey house. Their badly burnt corpses were retrieved from the debris after the fire was finally extinguished. Eyewitnesses said that the blaze started in the upper flat and spread throughout the house within minutes.

This newspaper was reliably informed that one of the suspects in custody was also recently held in connection with the November 19, 2012 murder of 20- year-old Sadeek Jumanat at Double Day Hotel, Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo.
However, he was released from police custody, while manager of the hotel, Bhojnauth Bhola, and his employee, Leyland Johnson, were recently charged with the mechanic’s murder.
Gang formed

Meanwhile, as it relates to the murder of the elderly couple, reports indicate that one of the suspects, who lives at the back of the Munirs, revealed to a friend that the couple had $20M cash in their home. A deportee was then contacted and a gang of six, which included a driver and a lookout, was formed and the plan was hatched to rob the couple. Three of the suspects are from the Good Hope neighbourhood and another is from Tuschen, EBE.

Police investigators have learnt that the men, upon breaking into the couple’s house, hunted for valuables and in the process, the couple woke up. This newspaper understands the perpetrators then attempted to gain access to the couple’s bedroom at the rear of the building, but because of the security feature, they were unable to do so.

The angry bandits then decided to light a sofa afire and threw a gas bottle into the fire, resulting in a loud explosion minutes after they fled the scene. Police have received reports from a neighbour, who said that she saw two persons in the couple’s verandah before the fire broke out. The neighbour also claimed to have heard Mrs. Munir screaming that ‘bandits’ were in the house. Ranks from the force’s Major Crimes Unit are spearheading the ongoing investigation.