…prime
suspect in custody, says
victim was shot in the head
The charred remains of a
male of East Indian ancestry, identified as that of
the missing taxi driver Bomeshwar Sukhdeo, called
Anil, was discovered on the Mocha Arcadia access
road, yesterday.

And by last night the police had arrested a prime
suspect.
The suspect, Balram Singh, of Agricola, Greater
Georgetown, has reportedly admitted to killing the
taxi driver, Sukhdeo, and selling his car to a taxi
service in Grove, East Bank Demerara.
Unsolved murder
Information supplied to the police led them to
Balram Singh who, during interrogation, said that
the idea was hatched when the owner of the Grove
taxi service indicated that he would be happy if he
could get a wagon similar to the one he owned.

The taxi service owner had crashed his wagon but he
had the documents. He indicated that if he could get
an identical wagon then he would simply transfer his
documents to that vehicle after it would have been
modified.
Singh, who owns a route 42 minibus, and another man,
went in search of a wagon. Singh then returned t the
owner of the taxi service and informed that he had
secured a wagon and that it was in Berbice.
Last night, he told the police that this other man
hired Sukhdeo from Robb Street then picked him up
outside Silvie’s Variety Store near the Linden Bus
Park, opposite Public Buildings.
He said that they drove to Agricola where the other
man shot Sukhdeo in his head, wrapped the body in a
sheet and deposited it on a dam in the village.
However, the other man denied that he was with
Singh. The owner of the taxi service also told the
police that when the wagon was brought to his
premises, Singh was alone. They are however in
custody.
The police are working on the theory that Singh shot
Sukhdeo in his head. They have heard that Singh
rested the body on the dam in Agricola until
nightfall, then removed it to Mocha where it was
discovered yesterday. He also hid the vehicle for a
while before selling it to the taxi service owner.
Initial assessment by Government Pathologist Dr.
Nehaul Singh, suggested that the remains were that
of Sukhdeo. Investigators and relatives of the
missing driver also indicated that they were
prepared to await the results of DNA before they
could be absolutely certain.
The body was discovered around midday, by a search
party which was organized by Sukhdeo’s family.
Kaieteur News understands that the search team was
in the Mocha area when they came upon a strong
stench.
Upon checking they found the remains and
subsequently contacted the police.
The upper portion of the body was found braced to a
tree while the two lower limbs were several feet
away.
Investigators believe that the body parts were
separated by animals.
Sukhdeo disappeared last week Tuesday and since then
several searches had turned up blank.
On Monday anxious moments turned into despair when a
search party comprising ranks from the Wales Police
Station and a West Bank Demerara Community Policing
Group accompanied by a relative scoured the lands
aback of the Bel Vue Estate, but came up
empty-handed.
Other searches were conducted and these included
areas along the East Bank Demerara, including
Timehri; the Soesdyke/Linden Highway; South
Ruimveldt; Meadowbrook and Sophia.
Sukhdeo, who is also called ‘Desperado’ or
‘Rush’, 39, of 162 Sixth Street, Industry, East
Coast Demerara was last seen at the car park outside
Guyana Stores Limited.
He was wearing a cream T-shirt, blue denim pants and
brown shoes. At the time he was driving a white
Toyota EL Touring wagon HB 7419.
A relative, who was at the scene yesterday, is
almost convinced that the remains are that of
Sukhdeo despite no proper identification.
Government Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh, who did a
preliminary examination of the remains at the scene
yesterday, told the media that initially there is
nothing much he could ascertain in terms of the
identity of the person.
He however disclosed that the remains were that of a
male East Indian, about five feet ten inches in
height and above the age of 25-years old.
He could not say if the victim bore any wounds to
his head at this time.
“I was trying but I can’t in this condition. We
gotta go and wash it. But as from there I cannot see
anything, I can’t see it now,” Dr Singh said.
He estimated that the remains were at the location
between 14 hours and one day because of the presence
of maggots.
“There were no flies, just maggots. Which means
that eggs were deposited about 14 hours ago before
you start seeing the maggots coming out,” the
Pathologist explained.
The missing taxi driver’s father-in-law confirmed
that Sukhdeo was about five feet nine inches.
“I want to think that it might be him. I am hoping
that they will take samples for DNA. I will ask the
parlour to freeze it until the police say yes, I can
have it.
Then I will like to get rid of the remains,” the
missing driver’s father-in-law told this
newspaper.
“Even if the DNA comes back and it’s not the
right person, then so be it. But that is how it is
with me right now,” the father-in-law added.
He said that if he has to assist in any way to get
the DNA done, he will.
He said that he plans to break the news gently to
his daughter and granddaughter as well as his wife.
“I will tell them somehow. I will have to tell
them that we found a body, that it’s burnt beyond
recognition, that I cannot say if it’s him,”
Sukhdeo’s father-in-law stated.
Meanwhile, the taxi driver’s car was reportedly
recovered at a spray painting establishment on the
East Bank of Demerara.
According to a source, the chasis number was filed
off and the vehicle appeared to be in the process of
being sprayed over.
However, a positive identification of the vehicle
was made from a special mark at the rear of the car.
The owner of the spray painting establishment is
assisting police with their investigations.
The man who took the car to the spray painter is
also assisting the police.
Thursday,
January 28, 2010