— claims pujari told him child was not biologically his; two in police custody for murder

By Bebi Shafeah Oosman

THE father of six-year-old Orlando Jaikarran, whose decomposed body was discovered in a canal at Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice, reportedly confessed to throwing the child overboard after a pujari allegedly told him that the boy was not his son.

The child’s body was discovered shortly before 2:00 am Tuesday in a canal next to the sea dam, according to police sources.

An examination of the body revealed that the head was missing, along with portions of the left hand and right foot.

The source disclosed that Bharrat Jaikarran, 45, told police that he visited a pujari in the area last Sunday and was allegedly told that Orlando was not his biological son.

According to the account provided to police, the father rode his motorcycle to the backlands near the sea dam and left it there before returning home to collect the child. He then took Orlando to the area and threw him overboard, reportedly knowing that the boy could not swim.

The man also reportedly told investigators that he knew a neighbour had CCTV cameras in the area.

He claimed that Orlando would often accompany him on early-morning fishing trips, and he believed that taking the child out at that hour would not raise suspicion.

The source further disclosed that the father told police he had been frustrated over the living arrangements for his children. One child was staying with his mother, while three were living with him.

He reportedly said he had contacted his ex-wife and proposed that she take two of the children while he kept the other two, but she was not interested in the arrangement.

The child’s father along with another man have been arrested and are in police custody assisting with the ongoing investigation.