Nine still in custody for Wakenaam /Meten-Meer-Zorg attacks

Last Updated on Saturday, 26 December 2015, 21:01 by GxMedia

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on Friday approved the continued detention of nine suspects in the brutal robberies at Wakenaam Island and Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara.

Deputy Police Commissioner, Seelall Persaud said the eight others were expected to be released from custody.

The DPP, Shalimar Ali-Hack has granted the police permission for the nine to remain in custody until Saturday.

She had the option of recommending that they be released, charged or their detention extended to allow the police to conduct more investigations.

Under Guyanese law, police are not expected to detain suspects for more than 72 hours without charging or releasing them unless the DPP or High Court grants an extension.

Police have said that several of the detainees have confessed to having knowledge of the shooting death of 27-year old Zulficar “Vicky” Namdar inside his shop at Meten-Meer-Zorg on September 11. Confessions have been also made about the armed robbery and shooting injury of Rohan “Anand” Dhanaysure at his Wakenaam home on September 7.

With Monday’s arrest of 15 persons and two more on Tuesday as well as the recovery of two 9 MM handguns, police believe that they have dismantled a major criminal network stretching from the East Coast Demerara to Georgetown and West Coast Demerara. Investigators said several boat owners and operators are believed to be part of the criminal network.

Ballistic tests, according to police, show that a 9 MM handgun, which was in the possession of Kirk Bacchus who police shot and killed Monday morning, was fired at the Namdars home.

Other tests have revealed that two 7.62 MM rifles were fired at the Wakenaam and Meten Meer Zorg attacks by bandits.