Ex-soldier fingered in gold dealers’ deaths arrested

The ex-soldier wanted by police for the murders of gold dealers Ramdeo Deonarine and Jainarine Raghubir was held in the capital yesterday, Crime Chief Seelall Persaud confirmed.

Keron Herbert

Persaud, when asked about charges being laid against 24-year-old Keron Herbert, in connection with the murders, said that the police investigation is still ongoing.

Police issued a wanted bulletin for Herbert a week ago.

Deonarine and Raghubir were discovered on the kitchen floor of a Second Avenue, Bartica house.

They were both bound and had deep wounds inflicted to their throats. Approximately $1.2 million in cash as well as 100 ounces of raw gold and two laptops were stolen from the house.

Rawle Newton was charged last week with the murders while, Michael Newton, policeman Marlon Letlow, Linden Scotland and Kim Bumbury are accused of aiding and abetting in the crime. Rawle Newton allegedly committed the murders sometime between September 4 and September 5 at Bartica, while Michael Newton, Letlow, Scotland and Bumbary are alleged to have aided him, some time between September 5 and 16 at Georgetown.

Letlow, a policeman attached to the Tactical Services Unit (TSU), who was stationed at Bartica, is alleged to have tried to blackmail Rawle Newton, after receiving stolen goods belonging to the dead men. Police seized four motor cars, an ATV (All Terrain Vehicle) and a quantity of electrical home appliances, suspected to be proceeds from the robbery, when they made the arrests.

Deonarine and Raghubir were last seen around midnight on September 4 when they left a party. Neighbours did not recall seeing anyone entering the house prior to the discovery of the bodies.