Five Corentyne, Berbice pirates were remanded to prison after they were charged
Ramchan Latchman captain of the alleged piracy
with the murders of three fishermen. The incident took place one year ago and although two of the bodies have not been discovered, the Director of Public Prosecutions advised that the men be charged with murder.
Although only one body was discovered on June 5, 2016, the five accused were
charged with the murders last year. On Thursday, the five accused appeared before Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh at the Number 51 Magistrate’s Court on three counts of murder.
The men are Ramchan Latchman, 23, of
Ganesh Naidoo
Number 65 Village; Ganesh Naidoo, 41, of Number 79 Village; Ramesh Singh, 53, of Liverpool; Stephon Leon Leacock, 19, of Number 77 Housing Scheme, Corriverton; and Leon Sammy, 29, of Number 75 Village.
It is alleged that during the act of piracy, they murdered Dochan Sukra, 54, also
Stephon Leon Leacock
called “Butcher” of Number 55 Village; Dhanpaul Rampaul of Number 67 Village; and Munish Churman, 26, also called “Boyo” of Number 60 Village.
The five are already charged for the capital offence committed for the death of
Hemchand Sookedo.
It had been reported that five pirates hijacked three fishing boats and after taking away their catch, threw the captain of the first vessel overboard. Seepersaud Persaud, 43, of Corriverton, was thrown into the water five miles offshore but was rescued by other fishermen after swimming for three hours.
Leon Sammy
The following morning, Persaud was brought ashore and reported what transpired while he was on board. Police later arrested five men as suspects.
He swam for three hours and was rescued by other fishermen. The others were reportedly also thrown overboard; three of them anchored before.
The body of 45-year-old Hemchand Sookdeo, also called “Dread” of Number 55
Ramesh Singh
Village was found dead trapped in a seine. The other bodies have never been recovered.
The matter comes up again on May 17. (Andrew Carmichael)
