Although Ganesh Ramlall’s relatives insist that he was the victim of a hit, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum yesterday said the information taken from his wife establishes that the businessman was killed during a robbery.
“We have to go with eyewitness evidence. Based on reports, he was robbed. So, that is the position we have to follow,” Blanhum said.
While emphasising the need for investigators to follow the reports they get, he said that there was a similar case in Meadow Brook recently where persons were insisting that there was more to the killing than robbery. It turned out that it was a robbery during which the victim was shot dead, he said.
However, one of Ramlall’s relatives yesterday maintained that the businessman’s death was due to no robbery. “It ain’t looking like a robbery,” the relative said. When asked who would want to kill Ramlall, she said she did not know, particularly since she did not know him to have problems with anyone.
Up to press time last evening, police had not made any arrests in the case.
Ramlall, 48, of La Jalousie, West Coast Demerara, was owner of the Regent Multi Complex Mall, located at the corners of Regent and Wellington streets. He was riddled with bullets at about 12:10 on Sunday morning. He is reported to have sustained at least seven shots, including one to the head. Additionally reports indicate that he was confronted by four gunmen, who were all heavily armed.
Security sources say that shooting a person so many times and having so many persons all armed to carry out a “small” robbery makes no sense. One source said that the amount of shots that Ramlall sustained was a clear indication that the mission was to ensure that he was dead. “Why would bandits after some jewellery shoot somebody seven times?” the source questioned, while insisting that this case has all the features of an execution.
Additionally, the source said the number of gunmen involved also pointed to the fact that “this was no ordinary crime.” The source said that police statistics would show that bandits committing petty robbery—such as the snatching of jewellery—usually move in pairs. “To have four of them going to rob one man would be a wrong move. Four is a crowd, too many people,” the source said.
According to police, Ramlall had just returned to his La Jalousie home and went to use the outside bathroom when he was confronted by four men, who shot him about his body and took away his jewellery and a wallet before escaping.
Ramlall was later pronounced dead on arrival at the West Demerara Regional Hospital.
‘Rapid’ response
Police were heavily criticised by the dead man’s family for their late response. However, the Commander of ‘D’ Division (West Demerara) Stephen Mansell challenged the criticisms. “The police response was rapid given the time that they received the call from the relatives of the deceased,” he said.
Basdeo [only name given], a relative, had said police showed up at the scene about two hours after the first call was made.
Stabroek News has since learnt that the police patrol which had to respond to the report was some distance away from the La Jalousie area.
Last Friday, during the handing over of 11 vehicles to the force to increase its fleet so that there can be more patrols in the wake of an escalating crime situation, it was Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud who informed that ‘D’ Division had no patrol vehicle. One of the vehicles handed over was earmarked for the division.
Speaking to Stabroek News yesterday, Basdeo said no one can explain why the police took so long to arrive at the scene. “They have no explanation. It is very sad,” he said.
The man said that they have never had this type of issue with the police before.
He also said when Ramlall’s relatives visited the Den Amstel Police Station around 10 am, they were greeted by a padlock on the gate. “It was… hook on,” he said, before explaining that anyone wishing to enter had to push their hand through to unhook it.
