Police last evening released six wanted men including prominent businessmen Bramanand Nandalall Rambrichie, Salim Juman Azeez and Clayton Hutson who were detained for questioning into the recent high voltage shootings.
The men were released on $100,000 station bail each.
Meanwhile, businessman Royston Peniston and one of the Daby brothers were up to press time last night still being grilled by investigators.
The six – Rambrichie called `Bramma’, Azeez, Hutson, Dennis Edwards Jnr, along with ex policemen Ricardo Rodrigues and Lloyd Roberts walked out of police headquarters, Eve Leary around 6 pm after spending a night in detention.
One of the lawyers after confirming the release of the men said “they look tired and sweaty but they are relieved to be out”.
Five more men are still being sought by the police and anyone with information that could lead to their arrest is asked to contact police on any of their numbers including 911.
This surprise development came hours after Acting Chief Justice Ian Chang called on the police to show reason why the men should remain in custody before adjourning the matter to tomorrow morning.
Lawyers for the businessmen as well as Edwards and Rodrigues, approached the High Court yesterday morning seeking their immediate release.
Even as the lawyers’ arguments were being heard in chambers, Peniston turned himself into police, Stabroek News was told. This newspaper was also told that one of the Daby brothers surrendered on Friday but it is unclear which one. Efforts to contact senior police officials were futile.
Following the conclusion of the court hearing, Attorney-at-law Vic Puran who is representing businessmen, Azeez and Hutson in association with Glen Hanoman said his clients have to return to court tomorrow as a nisi order was made.
He explained that the order means that if the police fail to show cause then his clients will be released.
“Our contention is that the state has no evidence whatsoever to detain the men… This is all about publicity, to show that they are doing something. We sympathize with the state,” Puran said.
Attorney-at-law Nigel Hughes is representing Rambrichie and Dennis Edwards Jnr while Peter Hugh is representing former policeman Ricardo Rodrigues.
Rodrigues, in the company of plain clothes policemen, was at court yesterday along with several of his relatives and friends.
Under pressure to solve the spate of killings, police last Thursday issued bulletins for Rambrichie; Hutson of Lot 50 New Hope EBD; Mark De Abreu of Lot 66 Broad St, Charlestown; David Charran of Pomeroon, Essequibo; Rodrigues whose last known address was listed as Lot 19 Belvoir Court, Bel Air Village; Lloyd Roberts of Lot 3667 North Ruimveldt; Edwards of Lot 341 North East La Penitence; John De Santos of Lot 66 Adelaide Street, Charlestown and ex-policeman Sean Belfield. Roberts, Rodrigues and Belfield are known associates of convicted drug lord Roger Khan.
he following day, police issued bulletins for Azeez, a well-known businessman of Canal Number Two, West Bank Demerara and of Lot 454 Hopkinson Drive, Republic Park; Paul Daby (snr), Paul Daby (Jnr) called ‘Randell’ and Peter Daby, called ‘Spiderman,’ all of 127 D’Aguiar Park, Houston. The senior Daby also has a Lot 41 West Ruimveldt Housing Scheme address.
A wanted bulletin was also issued for Peniston called `Joe’, who is the owner of Blue Iguana nightclub and whose last known address is Lot 7 Bel Air, Lamaha Gardens.
Crime Chief Seelall Persaud on last Friday afternoon had confirmed the surrender of Rambrichie, Rodrigues and Roberts, who turned up with their lawyers. Hutson and Edwards, Persaud he had said, were arrested by police. Hutson was held at a Soesdyke/Linden, Highway roadblock while Edwards was arrested at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Eve Leary. He claimed that he had gone there to find someone.
Around 6 pm that day, Azeez was taken to the police by his lawyer.
The lawyers of the detained men have expressed outrage at the allegations as well as the decision by police to issue wanted bulletins for the men. According to attorney Nigel Hughes, police were just “rounding up the usual suspects”.
The first set of executions which claimed the lives of five persons including a 23-year-old woman and her three-year-old son, occurred on September 4. Police have since said that the other victims, Steve Jupiter, Christopher Gordon and Sherwin Jerome, were the targets and were believed to have been killed over missing drugs.
Jupiter had been described by police as a ‘hit man’ and a drug transporter while Gordon, who was deported for narcotics-related offences, was also known to be involved in criminal activities, they said.
Almost four weeks later, on October 1, Mark Caesar, known as ‘Lil Mark,’ was gunned down at the corner of Broad and Adelaide streets. While the motive for his killing is unclear, police sources have said that Caesar and Jupiter were friends and that the two killings might be somehow linked. Reports said a gunman, sitting in the back seat of a car, riddled Caesar with bullets. His relatives said they are clueless as to the motive behind his death.
On Monday night, gunmen opened fire on a car transporting Patrick Goodluck and Godfrey Grootfaam. The two men died almost instantly from multiple gunshot wounds. According to Crime Chief Persaud, Goodluck and the men killed in the other two attacks were associates and “would’ve worked for the same people.”
Ballistics tests have revealed that the same gun was used in the Broad Street and the Campbellville executions, police said.
They also said that five of the six male victims were linked to criminal activities.
