Suspect in Hope murder charged after surrendering

Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus yesterday remanded the second accused in the murder of businessman Lakeram Bishundial, after he surrendered to police.

Sheik Alim Samad

Sheik Alim Samad, of Lot 128 Barr Street, Kitty, appeared at the Vigilance Magistrates’ Court yesterday. The man was not required to plead to the charge when it was read to him.

It is alleged that on August 20, at Hope, East Coast Demerara, Samad murdered Bishundial. He is the second man to be charged with the murder.

Police spokesman Superintendent John Sauers told Stabroek News yesterday that Samad appeared before the court. The accused, according to Sauers, next appears in court on October 19.

A wanted bulletin was issued for Samad on Wednesday evening. This newspaper understands that the man turned himself in to police yesterday and was subsequently charged.

Lakeram Bishundial

On August 24, Shawn Anthony Thom, 31, of 128 Third Street, Alexander Village was not required to plead when the charge was read to him at the Cove and John Magistrates’ Court. Thom was also remanded to prison.

Bishundial was murdered on August 20. As he was driving his motor lorry GGG 8273 along the roadway he observed his brother, Totaram, in his motor pick-up. The two brothers stopped their vehicles and were talking on the road when two men rode up on a motorcycle. The pillion rider, who was armed with a handgun, got off the motorcycle, approached the two brothers and discharged rounds at Bishundial, hitting him in his abdomen.

The armed man then grabbed a bag containing an undisclosed sum of cash from the pick-up and escaped along with his accomplice on the motorcycle. Bishundial was taken to a private hospital in Georgetown where he succumbed to his injuries.