A 43-year-old East Bank Demerara (EBD) resident died just mere hours after he ingested a poisonous
substance while in Police custody.
Michael Persaud, a father of two, of Diamond New Housing Scheme, EBD, succumbed at about 08:30h on Thursday in the Intensive Care Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital.
Just after lunch on Wednesday, Persaud was rushed to the medical facility after he ingested a quantity of an unknown poisonous substance. Moments before consuming the poison which he reportedly kept in his possession, he appeared before a Magistrate to answer several counts of fraud charges after he allegedly obtained money under false pretense.
The man’s wife was overheard shouting on her mobile phone to her daughter, “…you daddy just drink this poison in the lock up “.
It was the Police who became alarmed after they notice Persaud vomiting and convulsing. After checks were made, the Police realised Persaud had consumed the liquid and reportedly managed to wrestle the bottle from his tight grip.
He was place in a Police vehicle and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital for medical attention.
It is still unclear how the man obtained the substance even though he was in Police custody. However, investigations are continuing into the matter.
In January 2016, Police had issued a wanted bulletin for Persaud along with Gunraj Raghubir of Kitty to answer charges of fraud. (Shemuel Fanfair)