Police are investigating the suspected murder of a businessman, ‘Johnny’ Ragubeer whose body was found by a gold miner and two friends a short distance from his shop on Tuesday afternoon at Kurupukari.
The incident reportedly occurred between 9.30 on Monday night and 1 pm on Tuesday at 33 Miles, Kurupukari, Upper Demerara River. Investigations revealed that Ragubeer operated a shop at 33 Miles Kurupukari where he sold groceries and alcoholic beverages.
A 25-year-old businesswoman, Sukharona Roopnarine, called ‘Cindy’ who operates a ‘cook shop’ about 400 metres south of the deceased’s shop told the police that about 5.30 pm on Monday, after she had closed her business, she and her sons, ages 7and 8, visited Ragubeer. On her arrival at the shop, she met him and a 25-year-old labourer drinking Guinness, XL, and Blend 7 rum. She sat with them and they all imbibed.
At about 6 pm, the labourer left to go back to his camp and about 9.30 pm, Roopnarine and her two children left to return to her shop and Ragubeer accompanied them, after which he returned to his shop.
Reports are that the businessman’s body was found lying about fifty feet from his shop at about 12.30 pm on Tuesday by a gold miner and two friends, who were travelling to Brazil and had stopped by the shop while on their way. The gold miner reported the discovery of the body to police at Mabura.
At the scene, police saw a wound on the businessman’s throat, a cut to his left ear and bruises to his upper back. What appeared to be dried blood stains were seen on the ground next to the body. They also discovered a black plastic bag next to the body which contained leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be cannabis. A cellphone was also found in the shop, suspected to be the deceased’s.
The body was taken to the Linden Hospital Complex and then to G. Jetsco Funeral Home where it awaits a post-mortem examination.
