Kidnap/murder probe - Timber company official questioned, released

http://www.kaieteurnewsgy.com/headlines.htm
Kidnap/murder probe
Timber company official questioned, released
Kaieteur News, 21 May 2007


Police confirmed yesterday that they had questioned an official from a
major timber company in connection with the kidnapping and murder of
Leonora businessman Khemdat Sukhul.

However, the official was released the same day after three attorneys
representing the company turned up at the location where the official
was being questioned.

Police said that Sukhul had leased a timber concession he owned to the
company to which the official was connected.

Detectives are trying to find out whether the businessman was slain by
persons who coveted his land.

Before he died, Sukhul had said that his kidnappers were after his
money and land. However, he had failed to identify his abductors.

Police had also detained about five other people after tracing a call,
but they have all been released.

At present, police say they have no fresh leads.

Sukhul, called Michael, was found in a critical condition at Cremation
Road, Mahaica, some five days after he was kidnapped.

There was a gaping wound behind his neck and his Achilles tendon was
slashed.

Residents at Mahaica had observed a light-green minibus in the area
shortly before Sukhul was found.

The injured man was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital but died
before he could receive medical treatment.

Sukhul, a 50-year-old farmer/businessman of Lot 4 Leonora Public Road,
West Coast Demerara, was kidnapped on May 7 from a house at New
Providence, East Bank Demerara and his captors had demanded a $24M
ransom for his release.

This money was said to be in a safe at the family's Leonora house. It
later transpired that the safe had no money.

Police, who were monitoring the calls, had said that the kidnappers had
even allowed Sukhul to speak to his relatives.

He had reassured his relatives that the kidnappers would have freed him
once the ransom was paid.

According to a source, the businessman's relatives would have received
the cash from overseas and were making arrangements to pay the ransom.

However, it appeared that the kidnappers thought relatives were
stalling them and decided to get rid of their victim.