As investigations continue into the deadly pirate attack that has left at least 14 persons missing and four dead, the main suspect, ‘Crackhead’, who was arrested on Sunday last in Suriname, has reportedly confessed to killing five of the fishermen before throwing them overboard.
Wanted in connection with the attack, during interrogation the man told Surinamese law enforcement officers that he was the ring leader in the recent spate of piracy attacks in Surinamese waters.
Mastermind in pirate attack: Crackhead
Reports coming out of Suriname have suggested that Crackhead also told Police that robbery was not a motive for the attacks, but he was just following orders — orders to attack the boat and “get rid” of the occupants.
Although a confession statement was signed by the suspect, the Police are continuing their investigations, as they have confirmed that 27 others are being questioned. During ‘Crackhead’s confession, he did not provide names of his accomplices.
To date, four bodies have been recovered from the attacks, the most recent being that of Gavin Outar, 33, of 18 Sheet Anchor, East Canje, Berbice. His partially decomposed body washed up at the Number 63 Beach, Corentyne, Berbice on Thursday.
At the time of the discovery, the body was clad in a pair of blue ¾pants and bore a tattoo on the left chest. Based on description of the tattoo, a cousin of the dead man turned up with a photograph of Outar sporting the same tattoo.
His body was taken to the Skeldon Hospital mortuary to await a post mortem. Sources told Guyana Times that it seems as though Outar was stabbed before he was thrown overboard.
At a joint press conference on Monday last in Suriname, Justice and Police Minister Stuart Faith reported that 30 persons have been arrested.
It was reported that a boat owner who reported the robbery to the Police described the men he recognised during the brutal attack on the fishermen, one of whom was the prime suspect ‘Crackhead’.
He reportedly told the Police that it was ‘Dick’, ‘Bolo’, ‘Crackhead’, ‘Sanbad’ and another man he did not know who had carried out the attack. The owner also related that the suspects are all Guyanese.
On Sunday, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan led a team to the neighbouring country, where he had the opportunity to meet with the relatives of the missing men. During his visit, Ramjattan recognised the need for improved Coast Guard warning systems and information sharing.
Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, who led a team to Suriname, described the attacks as acts of terrorism, and called upon the Governments of Guyana and Suriname to work together in addressing the horrific incidents. He urged that the full force of the law be used to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Two Saturdays ago, four boats were attacked by a group of men, who brutalised the occupants then threw them overboard. Two days later, another boat was attacked, and the captain was killed. The crew is still missing.
Those identified as missing are Ramesh Sanchara, Ganesh Persaud, Vickey Persaud, Glenroy Jones, Bharat Heralall, Ralph Anthony, and Tiaknauth Mohabir. The three bodies that were initially recovered are yet to be positively identified.
