Politician Mark Benschop says there was a $3M contract on his life that was offered to one of the men held over the killing of political activist Courtney Crum-Ewing and police apparently did not act when they were informed.
Rajput Narine, a onetime bodyguard of former Attorney General Anil Nandlall, and Regan Rodrigues, who has a long rap sheet, both remain in custody in connection with the Crum-Ewing murder. It is unclear whether the police have evidence to charge either of the two with the crime.
Up to press time, after several failed attempts, the police were still to contact Benschop to go over details of a conversation where Rodrigues allegedly admitted that he was offered $3M to kill Benschop.
Benschop, while expressing fears for his safety, said it was claimed that after the contract on him, there was supposed to be another—ostensibly Crum-Ewing. Benschop said that the information from Rodrigues had been passed on to the police prior to Crum-Ewing’s killing but they did nothing with it.
Police investigators are said to be looking for a third individual in connection with the Crum-Ewing’s murder.
Contacted yesterday about the claims made by Benschop and whether police were interested in speaking with him, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum told Stabroek News that he wished not to comment on any matter related to the probe. He stressed that at the moment the police are conducting investigations and intend to send a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) early next week for advice.
This newspaper has since learnt that there is an audio recording of Rodrigues saying that he had told the police about the intended plot prior to and after the March 10th execution of Crum-Ewing, a political activist. Crum-Ewing was shot dead while urging residents of
