THE daughter of the alleged piracy mastermind, Nakool Manohar called “Fyah”, said to have been behind the deadly April 2018 piracy attack, was arrested by police for allegedly “intimidating” witnesses.

Devena Manohar, called “Fiona”16 of Number 43 Village, East Berbice Corentyne, was arrested after she was seen taking photos of witnesses at the Springland’s Magistrate’s Court on Monday. According to police sources, witnesses have reported that Manohar and his relatives have been issuing threats to them in a bid to scare them from testifying against him in court. The move by his daughter was seen as being meant to further intimidate the witnesses, who felt threatened. She was arrested and, up to press time, she remained in custody and is presently assisting with investigations.

Meanwhile, Nakool Manohar, Premnauth Persaud and Alexander Denhearte appeared for the first time before Magistrate Alex Moore for the continuation of the preliminary inquiry. The matter was previously called before Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh.

Nakool and Persaud are charged jointly while Denhearte, who is facing the same charges, was charged separately. The charges against the men are for the murder at sea of Tilliknauth Mohabir and Mahesh Sarjoo between April 27th and May 3rd, 2018.

Between April 26th to May 3rd 2018, five fishing boats with 25 crew members were attacked, allegedly by a band of pirates led by Persaud called ‘Sinbad’, at the behest of Manohar in retaliation for the murder of his brother in neighbouring Suriname.

The aftermath of the attack left three confirmed dead; 11 survived while 11 are still missing and presumed dead. The boats were hijacked, their catch looted, engines and boats destroyed while the men were beaten, shot at, chopped, burnt with hot oil, doused with gasoline and told to jump overboard. A few were tied with heavy objects such as car batteries and the boats’ anchors.

The hearing saw several family members of the dead and missing fishermen and relatives of Manohar present. The matter will be called again on January 29th.