A suspect is being grilled by police about Sunday’s fire at Linden after he was seen on surveillance video stealing items from the Chinese garment store which was gutted and similar items were found in a building he had control of.
Divisional Commander David Ramnarine told Stabroek News that the man was held yesterday and is being questioned by investigators.
He said that ranks are continuing to question this suspect based on information received which resulted in a search being conducted on a building the man has control over.
According to Ramnarine during the search, items similar to those which persons carted off from the garment store were found. He pointed out that the man had to give an account of how the items ended up where they were found.
In the meantime, the commander added, the police are awaiting word from the fire department to ascertain if the blaze was a result of arson.
He added that from all appearances police will have to do some more work in relation to this matter.
Sources close to the investigations told Stabroek News that the suspect was initially arrested on Sunday. It would appear as though he was released but rearrested yesterday and is being treated as a suspect in arson, this newspaper was reliably informed.
Sources said that the owners of the Chinese garment store which was destroyed by the fire produced a surveillance tape which showed the suspect removing money from the store.
Stabroek News viewed the tape yesterday. It showed the suspect walking down an internal staircase leading to the garment store. Thereafter the suspect was seen going to the section where money was kept and removing same. He was then seen stuffing the money into his pockets.
The proprietors of the garment store were forced to install the cameras after money and other items started going missing.
Sources told this newspaper that based on the images on the recording the suspect may have taken more than a truck load from the Chinese over a period. This led police in Linden to swoop down on Monday evening on an apartment in Wismar Street, Mackenzie, Linden, where the man operates a small business. A large quantity of clothing, cell phones and other items were discovered. Stabroek News understands that the suspect is contending that the items are legally his but that the receipts were destroyed.
Residents of Wismar Street and other curious persons witnessed the removal of the items from the apartment on Monday night. They said that at the time the suspect was with the police and was still wearing the clothing from the day of the fire.
It is believed that the cell phones discovered are from the Digicel store and were taken prior to the fire. A source close to the Chinese said that the man was confronted by the Chinese the night prior to the fire when they allegedly told the man that they had evidence and were going to file a complaint against him.
The Chinese are to provide evidence of the items being their property.
