Probe into policeman’s fatal accident still ongoing

The investigation into the death of Chanderpaul Sookdai, who was killed in a road accident by an off-duty policeman at Bee Hive, East Coast Demerara, is still ongoing, according to Traffic Chief Hugh Denhert.

Denhert was unable to say whether the police rank was under open arrest. He stated that the case is being dealt with by the Commander of the Division.

Sookdai, 63, of Bee Hive, died on the spot two weeks ago after he was struck down by a speeding car of the off-duty policeman on the Bee Hive Public Road. He was riding to work around 6:30 am when he was hit by the vehicle.

An eyewitness had said his body was flung into the air before landing at the side of the road. The man said Sookdai’s body was left lying on the road for a few minutes before someone called for help to transport him to a hospital. However, he was already dead.

His wife, Anita, 59, said he had left home around 6am for work. “He tell me stay home, don’t go nowhere; that he gon’ come and pick me up and we gon go plant in the backdam,” she said. “We were married for 45 years and we lived good. He was a good man and a good father,” she said. She said she was having breakfast when her nephew came to her house and told her about the accident. She added that the policeman told her that he could not have prevented the accident.

Meanwhile, Sookdai’s children expressed anger that he was struck down by a traffic policeman, saying that the policeman was supposed to be enforcing the law not breaking it.