A 40-year-old Port Mourant, East Berbice, Corentyne, man has been killed during a scuffle with his employee over alleged payments.

The dead man has been identified as Mahendra Mangru called “Papo”, a land surveyor, while the suspect has been identified as Latchman Looknauth called “Latcho” of Lot 301 Haswell, Port Mourant, East Berbice Corentyne.

According to information reaching Guyana Chronicle, Looknauth went to the home of Mangru on Tuesday morning to uplift his payment for  renovation work done on the lower flat of his home but Mangru reportedly refused to compensate him as he was not satisfied with the work done.
An argument ensued and Looknauth threatened to take the matter to the police and was walking away when an alleged scuffle ensued.

According to the wife of the deceased, Monica Prashad, called “Shabna”, her husband did not owe Looknauth and Looknauth did not do any work on their home.

She said her husband had given Looknauth money for them to start a business together.

The widow explained that her husband had told her that things were not going as planned and he had asked Looknauth to return the money that was given to him but was met with disappointment every time.

“My husband is not one to owe people. He would help people and rather go broke, so what is being said is not true. Many times he would do work for people and not get paid and when he tells me about it I would say why not take payments upfront and he would say that’s ok sometimes
people pay how they get.”

Prashad, who resides overseas, said she last saw her husband three weeks ago when she was in Guyana. Her family is now at wits end given the restrictions on travel due to the coronavirus.

The woman wants justice for her husband as he did not deserve to die in the manner he did.

“I can’t express my feelings but I know he is not one to have issues with people, he is a very kind-hearted person,” she said.

The police in a report said Looknauth was at the home ofMangru and an argument over the alleged payment erupted when Mangru reportedly picked up a cutlass and chopped
Looknauth in the head.

Looknauth, on receiving the chop, allegedly bit Mangru on the hand with the weapon, forcing him to drop the cutlass.

Looknauth eventually pushed Mangru to the ground and ran out the yard towards the Port Mourant Hospital to seek medical attention.

While there, he was advised to make a report to the police. He did so at the Whim Police Station but was detained while making a report as Mangru was also taken to the Port Mourant Hospital where he succumbed, while receiving medical attention.

Mangru received a wound  (bite) to his right hand in the region of his thumb, a swollen left jaw and abrasions to the right foot.

Looknauth remains in police custody assisting with the investigation. Mangru leaves to mourn his wife and children ages, 14 and 21.