Clothes vendor’s murder: Wanted man previously charged for armed robberies, harbouring fugitive

The man wanted for questioning in connection with the murder of 24-year-old Carlos Waithe who was shot dead earlier this month, is no stranger to law enforcement. In fact, Akeem Rajkumar called “Barney” was previously charged with armed robberies and harbouring a fugitive.

Rajkumar, 29, is last known to have resided at North East La Penitence, Georgetown, and Leopold Street, Georgetown. Waithe, 24, a clothes vendor of 2 Norton Street, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown, was shot and killed on February 7 at Leopold Street while trying to part a fight between friends.
Waithe was consuming alcohol with friends in Charlestown, Georgetown, on the night of February 6 after which he told them he was leaving to head to a known bar in the same community. It was reported that during the wee hours of February 7, Waithe, in the company of another friend, arrived at the bar, where one of his friends became involved in an argument with another patron.
The friend, Police said, was then seen running east on Leopold Street towards Smyth Street, Georgetown, while being chased by a group of men. Loud explosions were heard during the chase which caused Waithe to also give chase behind the men, yelling “y’all can’t shoot da man”.
The men then turned their attention to Waithe and an argument ensued, during which he was shot. Waithe was then rushed to a private city hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Meanwhile, in March 2020, Rajkumar appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on charges which alleged that he committed three robberies in one day. He was refused bail and remanded to prison. The robberies occurred on November 11, 2019, at Leopold Street.
The court heard that while armed with a gun, Rajkumar robbed Julia Elexey of an iPhone 11 and a gold chain valued at $800,000. It was also alleged that he robbed Ajay Mahadeo of a wallet valued at $8900, a phone valued at $80,000, and $37,000 in cash. He was also accused of robbing Timothy Morrison of a phone valued at $98,000, a gold ring valued at $60,000, and $158,000.
“Every week I does keep a party in Leopold Street. They does come to my party, so why would I rob them? This is total victimisation. I have four kids to look after, I don’t have any reason to rob those people,” Rajkumar told the court while pleading his innocence.
Reports state that Elexey, Morrison, and Mahadeo were in Leopold Street where Rajkumar held them at gunpoint and relieved them of the articles mentioned in the charges before making good his escape. He was placed on an ID parade and was positively identified by the complainants.
Then in September 2021, Rajkumar was charged with harbouring a fugitive. That charge stated that on August 7, 2021, at Leopold Street, while knowing Antonio Maraj, called “Thuggie,” and others committed an armed robbery, he received, comforted, and harboured him.
Maraj is among three men who are wanted concerning a $58 million robbery carried out on Wallison Enterprise, located at Lot 23 Gordon Street, Kitty, Georgetown, back in August 2021. Three persons, including a former soldier, were charged with the robbery. The soldier pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three years in prison.
Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of Rajkumar is asked to contact the Police on telephone numbers 226-6977, 225-8196, 226-9941, 226-1326, 225-3061, 225-3650, 911 or the nearest Police station. All information will be treated with the strictest confidence. (G1)