Murdered taxi-driver was threatened over car deal -police

Police are working on the theory that a soured car deal may have led to the brutal murder of taxi driver Sean De Freitas Sookdeo, after new information surfaced that threats were made to his life about a month ago after he failed to deliver a promised car.

Police have so far not arrested anyone in connection with the case.

Crime Chief Seelall Persaud told Stabroek News that investigators are still doing background checks on Sookdeo, 25, called ‘Sunil.’ He explained that following the discovery of Sookdeo’s bullet-riddled body, which also exhibited signs of torture, the dead man’s wife told investigators that an unidentified caller threatened his life about a month ago. She is reported to have said that Sookdeo took his money and failed to deliver a car as promised.

Persaud said that based on information gathered, the dead man took money from several persons to import vehicles but never did. He said that investigators have been unable to identify the caller.

A source close to the case said that Sookdeo was implicated in two car incidents last year and the matter reached the chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). However he was never charged.

The source said that from all indications Sookdeo knew his killers and went willingly with them before he was later tortured and killed.

Meanwhile relatives and friends today gathered at the Sookdeo family home. His sister Alisha told this newspaper that no new information has surface from the police. She said that the police had contacted them earlier for a post-mortem examination to be done on the body but it was later cancelled.