Guyana: 2 held for killing Lands and Survey Assistant

Guyana police have charged Otto Pitman and Oliver Franklyn for killing Lands and Survey assistant Natram Persaud alias ‘Vishal’ at a wedding house. The incident took place at Canal #2 Polder, West Bank Demerara.

As per the sources, the wedding celebration was being held at the stated place and near about 60 people were attending the wedding.

The information added that both the suspects were apprehended by the Guyana Police for an alleged murder in the course of a robbery committed on Persaud and the attempted murder committed on Manipaul Ramberhak.

Otto Pitman is a 35-year-old resident of Lot 50 School Street, Goed Fortuin, West Bank Demerara. He was arrested on 3 January 2024 and charged on Monday for the offence he committed on Nateram Persaud under Section 100(1)(i) of the Criminal Law Offences Act Chapter 8:01.

A 49-year-old, Oliver Franklyn a resident of Lot 276 Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara was apprehended on 1 January 2024. He was also charged with the offence under Section 100 (1)(i) of the Criminal Law Offences Act Chapter 8:01 for killing the victim.

Subsequently, both the victims were taken to Magistrate McGusty at Vreed-en-Hope Magistrate’s Court, where the charges were read against him. The court while announcing has sent both the convicts to custody until 7 February 2024.

Shedding light on the incident, as per the reports, the victim was shot while 57-year-old Rambarhak, also known as Anand, farmer of Canal #2 Polder, was robbed of his gold hand band. The robbery took place after three male bandits, dressed in dark clothing and wearing masks, invaded a wedding house in Canal #2 Polder, West Bank Demerara.

It is to be noted, that Manipual Rambarhak was sitting at the western side of the entrance accompanied by his friends when three bandits approached him and looted his gold hand band valued at $250,000. The bandits were leaving the yard when Persaud chased them and started fighting with one of the suspects. During the fight, the suspect shot at the victim and escaped the crime spot.

According to the sources, Rambarhak was taken to the Woodlands Hospital and Persaud was taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, where the doctors on duty announced him as dead.