FIVE persons have been charged with the murder of Lelawattie Mohamed, who was gunned down at her Lot 149, Sixth Street, Tain Settlement home on February 7, 2017.Those charged are Oliver Permaul, 34, a barber; businesswoman Nazeema Permaul 42, of Lot 100 Tain Settlement; 26-year-old Andre James called ‘Tatoo man’, of Lot 46 George Street, Rose Hall Town; Rohan Johnson, 39, a Carpenter known as ‘Jamaky’, a citizen of Jamaica and of 107 Second Street, Rose Hall Town and his 28-year-old common-law wife, Shabiki Alert Thompson.

They all appeared before Magistrate Charlyn Artiga at the Number 51 Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday,when they were jointly charged. They were not required to plead to the indictable offense and were remanded to prison until May 4, 2017; the matter was transferred to the Whim Magistrate’s Court.

It is alleged that Lelawattie Mohamed, a mother of 3, was having an affair with a businesswoman’s husband,whose wife later found out about the affair and then allegedly ordered a “hit” on Mohamed. This newspaper understands that the businesswoman owns and operates a sawmill at Edinburg, East Bank Berbice.

It is also alleged that the said businesswoman was in a relationship with Permaul, who operates his barbershop opposite her home at Tain, Corentyne. This businesswoman is yet to be arrested. According to reports, Johnson and James were the hired ‘hitmen’, who reportedly carried out the act for an agreed sum of $4M.

However, only $400,000 was handed over to the men, while Alert-Thompson received the cash. Additionally, Oliver Permaul is said to be the one who solicited the men on behalf of the businesswoman; Oliver’s wife, Nazeema Permaul allegedly assisted in planning the murder and also acted as an agent who allegedly handed over the cash to the ‘hitmen’.

WE ARE INNOCENT
Meanwhile, as the five accused were leaving the court, they shouted that they are innocent. Oliver Permaul shouted several times that he is innocent, and noted “Sawmill pay de money…a woman pay somebody to kill she [Mohamed] and me get accused cause me ah work in front deh …where de justice deh?”

Meanwhile, a source close to the investigation revealed that the businesswoman contacted the police through her lawyer and promised to turn herself in soon. At approximately 11:30hrs. on February 7, two masked men armed with a gun stormed the home of Lelawattie Mohamed, a domestic worker, who was at home with her two children, ages 19 and 21.

The men demanded cash and when Mohamed reportedly said she did not have any, one of the masked men placed a gun to her throat and fired a shot,killing her instantly, in the presence of her son.