Suspect charged in Cummings Lodge taxi driver’s murder

Rakesh “Balgo” Kumar was yesterday charged with the murder of taxi driver Omar Harper, who was fatally stabbed in Cummings Lodge on Saturday night after he went to the aid of a robbery victim.

Kumar, of Sixth Street, Cummings Lodge, was arraigned on the capital charge before Magistrate Alex Moore at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court.

It was alleged that on November 24, at Cummings Lodge, Kumar murdered Harper.

Rakesh Kumar

Kumar was not required to plead to the capital charge and Magistrate Moore remanded him to prison.

The case will be called again on January 3, 2013, for reports and fixtures at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court.

Kumar is accused of being one of two men who robbed Cummings Lodge resident Latchmin Sookraj, leading to Harper’s intervention after the woman screamed for help. It is believed that Harper was stabbed several times during a confrontation with one of the robbers.