Guyanese man held in Suriname for shopkeeper’s murder

A Guyanese man remains in custody in Suriname in connection with the murder of a 60-year-old Chinese shopkeeper who was found dead at his business place in the Commewijne district earlier this month. The man was arrested by Police in Nieuw-Amsterdam and has since denied any involvement in the killing. According to Surinamese authorities, he was taken to the Police station after being escorted there by another individual. Investigators said surveillance footage from the area reportedly showed the Guyanese national as the last customer to visit the shop before the discovery of the body. A short time later, a teenager reportedly entered the establishment and discovered the shopkeeper lying motionless behind the counter. The victim, who lived and worked alone at the location on Commissaris Roblesweg, was found with a stab wound to the neck and was pronounced dead at the scene. Initial Police assessments suggested the possibility of a robbery-homicide; however, further investigations reportedly revealed that no items or cash were missing from the shop. As a result, investigators have continued to examine other possible motives. Residents in the area told investigators that the shopkeeper, who operated the business on his own, was known to have occasional disagreements with customers. Following consultations with Suriname’s Public Prosecution Service, Police have remanded the suspect in custody as investigations continue. The accused, whose name was not revealed, has maintained his innocence and continues to deny any role in the killing. The shopkeeper’s body was discovered inside his business place in Commewijne after Police responded to reports of a suspicious situation. Upon arrival, officers found the man’s lifeless body inside the shop. Preliminary examinations revealed that the victim sustained multiple sharp-force injuries, which proved fatal. The severity of the wounds indicated that the attack occurred inside the building, where the man lived and worked alone. Surinamese Police have since been continuing investigations to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the killing.