Missing GEA employee …Detained man claims he was instructed to hide victim’s vehicle

Jan 04, 2013 News

– Admits to selling LeVoy Talji cellphone
Police have detained a 32-year-old Soesdyke man who appears to have information about the fate of Guyana Energy Agency employee LeVoy Taljit, who disappeared ten days ago.

Detained: Sherwin Francis

The suspect was detained on Wednesday at his home and has reportedly admitted to stashing Taljit’s Toyota Raum on the Soesdyke/Linden highway. He has reportedly also admitted to selling the missing man’s mobile phone.
Sources close to the missing man also said that the suspect was found in possession of financial documents belonging to Taljit.
An associate of Taljit’s said that the man claims to have befriended the 25-year-old GEA employee some time ago. He alleged that they had first communicated via an internet site.
This newspaper understands that the Soesdyke resident claimed that Taljit visited his home around the time of his disappearance. He alleged that the young man had a bag of money and asked the suspect to stash the Toyota Raum.
According to the source, the suspect had initially told detectives that the missing GEA staffer was alive and well and has spoken to him from Paramaribo, Suriname. However, he reportedly eventually admitted that this was a fabrication and that he had sold Taljit’s phone.
An official told Kaieteur News that the new developments have left investigators even more worried about Taljit’s fate. They are to intensify their search today.
Police got their first break a few days ago when phone records revealed that someone had used Taljit’s mobile phone in the vicinity of Marudi, on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway, a few days after he went missing. The individual also used Taljit’s phone to make a call to a landline.
The individual reportedly had inserted a different chip in the cell phone, without being aware that the phone could still be traced when activated. It was around that time that residents from Yarrowkabra found the abandoned vehicle.
The battery and some of the electronic appliances, as well as the keys, were missing. Crime Scene ranks found no trace of blood on the vehicle or other evidence suggesting foul play.
With the suspect’s arrest there are now suggestions that robbery is the primary motive for Taljit’s disappearance. There have also been suggestions that persons dealing in fuel smuggling might be involved in his disappearance.
Yesterday, the missing man’s father said that he is still holding out hope that his son is alive.
“I believe in God; the whole family feels that he’s still alive, but they (abductors) might want to get rid of him. I need my son back alive.” He said that the family has not received any ransom note, leaving them at a loss as to who may have his son.
Taljit, who is of Amerindian and East Indian descent, was reported missing last week Sunday.

Missing: LeVoy Taljit

This newspaper understands that he was last seen wearing a burgundy-coloured tee shirt and faded blue jeans. He was driving a Toyota Raum, PNN 8315. Family and friends have not heard from him since then and say that it is unlike him to not be in contact with them.
His sister, Anastasia, had told Kaieteur News that her brother had recently started working with the GEA.
According to the woman, Taljit was previously employed in the enforcement department of the Guyana Revenue Authority for several years. Persons with information are asked to make contact with 226-0433, 226-7336, 666-4012 or the nearest police station.