Latest update November 21st, 2024 1:00 AM
Businessman’s daughter, ‘hit man’ to face murder charge
The daughter of 76-year-old businessman Habiboodean, and the ‘hit-man’ that was allegedly hired at her behest, are to be charged next week for the murder of her father in February 2008.
Murdered: Habiboodean
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum said that the police legal advisor recommended charges against the woman, 50-year-old Bibi Habiboodean, and alleged hired killer, Linden Lewis.
The development came this week after Bibi Habiboodean allegedly provided investigators with a statement that was consistent with that given by her father’s alleged killer.
Kaieteur News understands that the woman has said that “severe financial difficulties” caused her to plot her father’s demise. She has also reportedly stated that her elderly father was heavily indebted.
“She knew that if he went to the ‘Great Beyond’ she would inherit his assets,” a source said.
Mrs. Habiboodean was detained earlier this week after turning herself in to police with an attorney. Police had also arrested Terry Lewton, a former employee of the murdered man, and Robert Parris, a relative of the alleged hired killer.
However, there are indications that the two men will be witnesses for the state. Meanwhile, police are still to locate Michael London, who allegedly hired his nephew, Linden Lewis, to kill Mr. Habiboodean.
Habiboodean, 76, of Ruby, East Bank Essequibo, was attacked and badly beaten in his home on February 15, 2008. He succumbed at a hospital.
Police had charged the victim’s former employee, Terry Lewton, 38, of Vergenoegen, East Bank Essequibo, and the dead man’s daughter, Bibi Nazeela Habiboodean, of Ruby, East Bank Essequibo, for Mr. Habiboodean’s murder. The matter was discharged due to insufficient evidence.
But the police got a real break in the case after police detained the alleged ‘hit-man’ and four others, for the murder of Mohamed Munir, 75, and his wife Bibi Jamila Munir, 69, who were burnt to death in their Good Hope, East Bank Essequibo home.
It was while he was in custody that someone tipped off investigators that Lewis had vital information about Habiboodean’s death.
Police said that while being interrogated on Monday, Lewis admitted to killing Habiboodean, while complaining that he had never received full payment for the job.
According to the suspect’s claims, it all began some time in 2008, when a female relative of the elderly businessman complained that other relatives of Habiboodeen had received properties and other assets, while she had received nothing.
The relative reportedly stated that she wanted the old man’s fuel station, cash he had in a bank, and assets he had in Georgetown. She reportedly then contacted an uncle of Lewis, and he hired Lewis to kill Mr. Habiboodeen.
Five individuals, including Lewis, reportedly sat down at a Vergenoegen home, East Bank Essequibo, to plan the old man’s death. Lewis said that the plotters promised to pay him $6M, and provide him with “a house and land.”
On February 15, 2008, the relative reportedly helped Lewis to gain access to Mr. Habiboodean’s house. When the ‘hit-man’ entered, the elderly businessman was sitting in a chair.
“What you doing here?” Mr. Habiboodean reportedly asked the intruder.
Lewis reportedly replied: “——(name given) send me to kill you.” He then reportedly struck the 76-year-old repeatedly. Mr. Habiboodean later succumbed in a hospital.
But Lewis said that instead of giving him the “$6M, house and land” they had promised, the plotters gave him $5,000 “to go into the bush.”
Lewis reportedly fled to the interior, where he remained for two years. It was during this time that police arrested and charged the victim’s former employee, Terry Lewton, and Bibi Nazeela Habiboodean for murder. They were subsequently discharged.
When Lewis returned from the interior in 2010, he approached the plotters and was told that the case had been “dismissed.”
But when the ‘hit man’ asked for his “$6M, house and land,” one of the plotters reportedly told him that all the money had been spent on lawyers. The plotter reportedly then told the ‘hit-man’ to ‘f—off.’
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