Two bodies float up from latest pirate attack

Jul 29, 2014 News

– Post mortem reveals fishermen were murdered

Two bodies were discovered on Monday and reports of another being cited and tied up in the Corentyne River have confirmed that the missing fishermen have been killed and dumped overboard possibly as a result of the latest edition of piracy.

The body of fisherman Omesh Derhup was found on the Kildonan Foreshore yesterday.

The decomposed body of Omesh Derhup 33 of No. 79 village Corentyne was discovered around 06:00hrs on Monday by fishermen in the area, on the Kildonan foreshore. He was later identified by his mother, Kamla Simon.
A fisherman, who upon stumbling upon the body, ran all the way to the police station to make the report. The body was so badly decomposed that the post mortem examination was performed by Dr. Vivekanand Brijmohan where it was found. Up to press time the result was inconclusive.
According to his mother there were signs that her son was tied up and beaten. The woman said that her son was not living with her, that he was living and working with boat owner, Beeram Persaud, called “Ram”
During the postmortem of the first body investigators received information that another decomposed body was found, this time at the Alness foreshore, Corentyne, Berbice. The body was later identified as that of Naresh Persaud, 22, one of two brothers who were on the boat and nephew of the boat owner. Dr. Brijmohan conducted the post mortem around 11:00 hrs where it was found and he gave the cause of death as due to multiple injuries. Both bodies were buried on Monday at the Babu John cemetery due to their decomposed state.
Investigators had received word that there was another body at the No. 35 foreshore, but as they descended on the area there was none. Word out of the area on Monday evening was that fishermen had found another body, which was tied out in the sea. However investigators could not confirm the information.
The two men, Derhup and Persaud were part of a five-man crew that left for sea on July 11, 2014, aboard the fishing boat “Miss Seema” which is owned by Beeram Persaud called Ram of Number 60 Village, Corentyne. The boat was reportedly found around 16:30 hrs on July 25 last on the Whim Foreshore, Corentyne.
The vessel had reportedly left the Skeldon Estate wharf with the captain, Deownanan ‘Rajesh’ Ravindranauth 43 of Crabwood Creek and his crew members, Omesh Derhup, Ramesh and Naresh Persaud who are brothers of the boat owner and Prakash (only name) on July 11, last.
Beeram Persaud had reportedly told investigators that the vessel with the men was supposed to return after 11 to 12 days but it did not.
According to reports, a man who was only identified as “Redman” saw the untied boat in the muddy area and informed the police since it is unusual for boats to be in that section of the shore.
When police visited the area, the boat registration along with the missing men’s clothing, hats and haversacks were discovered inside the vessel. The engine was intact but no fish, seine or anchor were found.
A source had stated that contact was made with Persaud because the registration was left in the boat.
Contacted for a comment, an upset Persaud told Kaieteur News that he doesn’t have any comments to make. He blurted out that we should contact Ramoutar. “You all should ask he. Them deh a build big International Hotel fo wah? Why them can buy two patrol boat fu save people life.”
“Me two nephews them (dead). Na call me; call the president and ask he if he concern about anything …about people life.”
The last piracy attack occurred on July 8, reportedly when pirates attacked a fishing crew and dumped the fishermen overboard.
Feroze Hack, the lone survivor from the July 8 piracy attack, alleged that at around 22:00 hrs that night three masked pirates stripped their fishing boat before attacking and kicking them overboard somewhere in Suriname.
He had stated that he survived the horrific attack by floating in the sometimes rough water. He claimed not to know what happened to his crew members after the pirates drove their boat over them.
One week after the incident, the body of one of the fishermen, Andrew Gopie, washed up on the Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara foreshore.
Those still missing from that attack are Vinesh Drunarine of Uitvlugt, Raymond Gomes and Chandrapaul Jallim, of Recht-Door-Zee, West Bank Demerara.
The investigations are ongoing.