Probe into missing Surinamese men: Brother of US-sanctioned man on $1M bail over alleged abduction

Thirty-three-year-old Jimol Murphy, brother of United States-sanctioned Mark “Demon” Cromwell, was granted $1 million bail on Thursday after being charged with the alleged abduction of two Surinamese nationals.
Murphy appeared virtually before Magistrate Shareefah Parks at the Fort Wellington Magistrate’s Court, where the indictable charge was read to him. He was not required to enter a plea.

Police alleged that Murphy abducted 28-year-old Van Dalen Lorenzo and 29-year-old Derryl Danillo on August 29 at Rosignol, West Bank Berbice.
Murphy was represented by attorneys-at-law Siand Dhurjon, Mark Waldron, and Meshon Persaud.
The prosecution reportedly objected to bail. However, Dhurjon argued that the evidence presented did not establish that an offense under the law had been committed.
He reportedly told the court that there was no evidence to disprove Murphy’s alibi that he was in Georgetown and Houston at the time of the alleged incident. Counsel also submitted that there was no evidence at this stage indicating that anything untoward had happened to the two men.
The court subsequently granted Murphy bail in the sum of $1 million. He is scheduled to return to court on October 19.
The charge comes as investigations continue into the disappearance of Lorenzo and Danillo, whose whereabouts remain unknown.
Police had previously said the two men were reported missing after leaving their respective residences in Suriname on August 28 in a white Toyota Vitz. They were last seen on August 29 after reportedly exiting the vehicle at Clarasluis in Nickerie, before travelling towards Guyana.

Murphy’s arrest also preceded two days of unrest in Vigilance, East Coast Demerara, where roads were blocked with burning tires, wood, and other debris.
On Tuesday, Police said that ranks responding to an ongoing investigation encountered persons who had blocked access points in the area. The Guyana Fire Service was called to extinguish the fires, but Police said persons at the scene hurled debris at firefighters and continued adding combustible materials.
Police also reported that a sand truck along the railway embankment at Buxton was set on fire and sustained extensive damage to its front cabin. Several loud explosions, suspected to be gunshots, were reportedly heard shortly before the truck was found burning. CCTV footage from the surrounding area is being reviewed as part of the investigation. No arrests had been made in relation to that incident at the time of the report.
On Wednesday, the Guyana Police Force subsequently issued a traffic advisory as the blocked roadway caused delays along the East Coast corridor. Police urged motorists to avoid the affected area unless travel was necessary and warned persons against obstructing the roadway or Police operations.
The investigation into the disappearance of the two Surinamese nationals remains ongoing.