Relatives of missing businessman Mohamed Khan are contemplating doing private DNA testing to confirm if the decomposing remains of a body and head found a month ago were his, even as they await a post-mortem examination (PME).
The PME scheduled for yesterday was postponed until next week. According to Crime Chief Leslie James, the delay came as a result of the unavailability of the doctor. He said it may be done on Monday.
While a belt and pants that were on the body have been positively identified as being Khan’s property, some doubt still remains as to whether the body and head were indeed Khan’s. Some relatives are hoping that the PME will reveal evidence of a gunshot wound to the stomach which would confirm that it was him. Khan was shot on July 9 in what he had described as an attempt on his life.
Stabroek News was told that the body was transported to the Georgetown Hospital Morgue from the Lyken’s Funeral Home. Khan’s relatives were subsequently told that the PME could not be done since there were lots for the doctor to do and an examination of the decomposing body would take up a lot of time. They were told to return on Monday.
Meanwhile, Stabroek News was reliably informed that given the fact that the PME may not be conclusive enough, relatives are exploring available options, including DNA testing abroad. One of the man’s relatives is said to be involved in this profession in the United States and it may be there that the testing will be done.
Some of the man’s overseas-based relatives are expected to arrive in the country shortly.
One of the man’s former employees had told this newspaper that Khan was last heard from on August 21, four days after he had arrived from Venezuela to transact business. The man who requested that his name be withheld from publication, said Khan was supposed to meet him later that week, but after Khan never contacted him he figured the man had returned home. The former employee said he only became aware that Khan had not contacted relatives when he received a call from the man’s wife in Venezuela, who was inquiring about his whereabouts.
Subsequently, a missing person’s report was filed with the Guyana Embassy in Venezuela and a missing person’s report was published in the Kaieteur News on October 12.
On September 22, a headless, badly-decomposed corpse believed to be that of a male was found in a drain at Cummings Lodge. The head was found in a plastic bag a few feet from the body. Additionally, the feet of the corpse were missing; one from the ankle down and the other from the knee down. Because of the state of the body, investigators were unable to establish whether the feet had been severed prior to or after death, or removed by dogs. The teeth were also missing. It is suspected that the person was killed elsewhere and his body and head dumped where he was found.
Relatives later decided to make contact with police in relation to the corpse. Late Thursday, a nephew and Khan’s ex-wife accompanied by the police went to view the remains.
According to what was relayed to this newspaper, photographs, which included images of a belt and pants, were taken and sent to the man’s wife in Venezuela. The woman confirmed that the items were her husband’s.
