Money changer’s murder trial begins

The murder trial of a Crabwood Creek, Berbice money changer has commenced.
Forty-seven-year-old Muhamamed Fizal Baksh Munir, called “Sugar cake” was murdered at the Number 63 Beach on December 15, 2015.
On trial for the alleged murder is Philemon Boodhoo. The trial begun last week before Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry with State Prosecutor Mondel Moore telling the jury that Boodhoo committed the murder during the course of a robbery.
Moore stated that on December 15, 2015, the now dead man left home as per routine to do business and Boodhoo took him to the Number 63 Beach and robbed and killed him. His body was found three days later. Muhamamed Munir’s wife, Jagwantie was the first to take the witness stand at the Berbice High Court. She told the court that her husband left home with both local and foreign currencies. She said he did not return home that evening and several calls to his cellular phone went unanswered. She told the jury that the following morning, she made a missing persons report at the Police station. She said she also went to the market where her husband operates and spoke with several vendors in the area. She told the jury that based on information she received from the vendors, she contacted Boodhoo at his Number 65 Village home. She said Boodhoo claimed that he did indeed call the now dead man, but claimed that he did not see him in person. According the dead man’s wife, a search party was formed and after two days, she received a telephone call stating that a body was discovered on the Number 63 Beach. She said she went to the beach and realised that it was her husband’s body. His footwear and wrist watch were next to him and a $1000 bill was a short distance away. She said when Police arrived and turned the body over, his cellular phone and calculator were found under him.
Meanwhile, under cross-examination by Attorney Arudranauth Gossai, the wife said she could not say for sure if it was Boodhoo she spoke with on the phone the day after her husband disappeared.
Taxi owner, Farida Hussain also took the witness stand, telling the court that Boodhoo rented a car from her at about 08:30h on December 15, 2015 and returned about 10:30h. She said he should have paid $5000 but since the car was returned the same day, she only charged him $3000. Hussain said Boodhoo paid the money to a worker.
Rohan Karim told the court that he was working at the taxi service, which also rented cars at that time. He noted that when Boodhoo returned with the car, he appeared to be nervous. He told the jury that Boodhoo had what he described as a “slab of money” which was about “six inched thick.” The money, he said, was both local and foreign currencies.
Karim told the court that Boodhoo asked him for a plastic bag and placed the money into is and then stashed it in his crotch. He said the man then hurriedly left the taxi service.
Under cross examination Karim said he knew Boodhoo to be a businessperson who would normally rent cars from the service.
The trial continues on Monday.