Daughter and alleged hit man remanded for 2008 Ruby businessman’s murder

May 04, 2016 Court Stories, Features / Columnists, News

A daughter and the hitman she allegedly hired to kill her elderly father eight years ago appeared at the Leonora’s Magistrates’ Court yesterday, charged with murder.

(Daughter) Bibi Nazeela Habiboodeen and alleged hitman Linden Lewis.

Bibi Nazeela Habiboodeen, 50, of 111 Ruby, East Bank Essequibo, and Linden Lewis, 29, of Vergenoegen East Bank Essequibo, were arraigned for the murder of 76-year-old businessman Habiboodeen who was brutally attacked and beaten at his Ruby, East Bank Essequibo home on February 15, 2008.
Bibi Habiboodeen stood side by side in the prisoners’ dock with Lewis as the indictable charge was read to them by Magistrate Rushelle Liverpool.
According to reports, the dead man’s daughter confessed just last week, along with Lewis, that they sat down in the man’s house with five individuals and plotted his death.
Police Prosecutor Inspector Matthews asked for time to be allocated to prepare the reports. The accused will make their second court appearance on June 21st.
Police had previously arrested and charged Bibi Habiboodean and 38-year-old Terry Lewton, of Vergenoegen, East Bank Essequibo, but the case was discharged because of insufficient evidence.
However, the lawmen got a real break in the case after Lewis and four others, were detained for the murders 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 Habiboodeen’s death.
Police said that while being interrogated on Monday, Lewis admitted to killing Mr. Habiboodeen, 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. He was promised $6M, and a house and land.