Latest update November 17th, 2024 1:00 AM
Latest News
- Guyana received US$5.4B in royalty, profits from 500M barrels pumped to date
- Final audit report of Exxon’s US$7.3B expenses sent to company, to be made public next week – Minister Bharrat
- Israeli air raid on Gaza City school turned shelter kills 10 people
- Baby dies, toddler severely burnt in Sophia fire
- Venezuelan- orchestrated cyber operations targeting Guyana – National Defence Institute
Political officials questioned about Crum-Ewing assassination
Political officials have not escaped scrutiny in the investigation into the assassination of political activist Courtney Crum-Ewing.
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum yesterday revealed that detectives had interviewed two political officials about the former army officer’s death, but declined to identify the individuals or the political party to which they are affiliated.
Courtney Crum-Ewing
Blanhum was responding to a report in Friday edition of Kaieteur News which stated that “indications are that investigators are still to question any political officials, although Crum-Ewing’s assassination is believed to have been politically motivated.’
Describing this statement as inaccurate, Crime Chief Blanhum said, “Investigators involved in the Crum-Ewing investigation are duty-bound to question all individuals, whose names have been mentioned during the course of the investigation, particularly those names provided by suspects in custody.”
“I wish to state that from the inception of this investigation to present, detectives from the Criminal Investigation Department contacted at least two political officials, who have been interviewed.”
The Crime Chief also said that investigators are trying to complete a report on the case, which will be submitted to the Director of Public prosecutions (DPP) next week.
He declined to comment on allegations by politician and social activist, Mark Benschop, that he was informed prior to Crum-Ewing’s killing that one of the detained men had been paid to kill him.
Benschop said that this information was provided by another man who is also in custody in connection with the Crum-Ewing case. Kaieteur News understands that investigators are attempting to locate a third individual.
Rajput Narine, the ex-bodyguard of former Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, and Riverview, Ruimveldt resident, Regan Rodrigues, also called ‘Grey Boy,’ were reportedly still in police custody up to yesterday.
Crum-Ewing was gunned down in Diamond Housing Scheme on March 10, 2015, while using a bull-horn to urge residents to vote for the APNU+ AFC Coalition. He had also protested for several days outside Nandlall’s office, while calling on the former AG to resign.
Police have said that they got a lucky break after arresting an individual who was in possession of a .32 pistol. The firearm turned out to be the same weapon that was used to kill Crum-Ewing.
Some of Crum Ewing’s relatives alleged that the former army officer had reported that he was threatened by two individuals, including a PPP official, while staging his protests.
In a statement to the media on Thursday, former Attorney General Nandlall, categorically denied any involvement in Crum-Ewing’s murder. He also said he had hired Rajput Narine, his detained ex-bodyguard, several days after Crum-Ewing’s death. He said that he had developed concerns for his safety.
Narine, a one-time Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) officer, was reportedly employed with the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) when Nandlall hired him.
But Nandlall said that he fired Narine four days later for unsatisfactory performance. Nandlall said that he did not do a background check on his bodyguard, or ask for references, because he had assumed Narine was of “good character”.
But Nandlall insisted that he had never spoken to or threatened Crum-Ewing. He also gave an alibi for his whereabouts at the time.
He said that Crum Ewing was shot nearly two months after he had stopped protesting outside the Ministry of Legal Affairs. Nandall said that he was speaking at a political meeting in front of the Kali Mandir at Timehri at the time of the shooting.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
The PPP is in the grip of the bourgeoisie
…Peeping Tom Kaieteur news- The People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) stands at a crossroads. Once the vanguard... more
Rising Gun Crimes in the Caribbean: Urgent Action required by all
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News – There is an alarming surge in gun-related violence, particularly among younger... more
Weekend Cartoon
