OPR probes death of murder suspect at Leonora Police Station

Following the death of Hemat Kumar Mohamed, 44, of De Groot-Enkline, Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara (WCD) whose body was discovered in the lockups of the Leonora Police Station on Saturday, an investigation has been launched by the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR). Mohamed, who was in connection with the alleged murder of Shavannie Hanuman, was found dead between 10: 45 h and 11: 24h on the day in question. Police also confirmed that Mohamed was found hanging from the window grill inside the lockups with an item of clothing and was subsequently escorted to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival by a doctor on duty.

It was reported that at 11: 24 h on Saturday, the deceased’s son, Rajkumar Mohamed, took lunch for him, and as he made his way down to the station lockups, he called out to his father but got no response. He later discovered his father hanging from a white vest that was tied to the grill of the window. Mohamed was accused of murdering his wife, 46-year-old Shavanie Hanoman, also called “Bo,” a housewife. She was reported missing after she failed to return home last Wednesday. One day later, residents discovered her body floating in a trench in the community and alerted the police. According to police, an examination revealed injuries to her neck and other parts of her body. While being interrogated, Mohamed related that his wife told him she would be returning home late and did not want him accompanying her; he followed her on his motorcycle. He told investigators that he confronted her at a bridge, where an argument developed. Police said Mohamed admitted that after being shoved during the confrontation, he took out a knife and stabbed Hanoman twice – once to the chest and once to the chin – before pushing her into the trench. He also told investigators that the knife fell at the scene.
After the confession, Mohamed accompanied investigators back to the scene, and he escorted them to a wooden bridge at De Groot-Enkline, where he indicated the location where he allegedly stabbed Hanoman and pushed her into the trench. Mohamed remained in custody until the time of his demise.