The Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) is investigating the death of Suyjit Ramotar, also known as “Mono”, a 53-year-old rice farmer from Lot 72 Letter Kenny Village, Corentyne, Berbice. Ramotar allegedly died by hanging while in custody at Whim Police Station.
Ramotar was arrested and taken into police custody at Whim Police Station on May 22, 2024, pending an investigation into the alleged murder of Joshua Hardatt, also known as ‘Money’, a Welder from Lot 371 Bloomfield Village, Corentyne Berbice, earlier this week at Auchlyne Cultivating Dam.
Ramotar was informed by the police while in custody on 2024-01-25 at approximately 09:45 hrs that he had been charged with the offence of murder, committed on Joshua Hardatt and that he was required to appear in Whim Magistrate Court on Tuesday, May 28, 2024. The charge was also read to him.
At approximately 16:55 hrs this afternoon, the ranks on duty went to the lockups to visit the prisoners and discovered Ramotar hanging by his neck with a piece of his jersey that he ripped and tied on the southern grill of the lockups.
The Crime Scene Technician processed the scene, examined the body, and discovered compression marks from the jersey around the neck. He was escorted to the Port Mourant Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead by a doctor on duty. His body is currently at the medical facility awaiting a postmortem examination, while the OPR investigation continues.
Joshua Hardatt was reportedly killed sometime between 18:00hrs on Tuesday May 21, 2024, and 08:00hrs on Wednesday May 22, 2024, at Auchlyne Cultivating Dam.
Initial investigations revealed that Hardatt left his residence with his silver-grey Toyota Premio car, PAD 1612, and went to an unknown destination. At about 09:00hrs, relatives received a call that the car was seen on Auchlyne Cultivating Dam.
The police were informed, and the scene was visited. Hardatt’s body was found motionless, lying face down in a crouching position in the back passenger seat of his car with marks of violence to the face, forehead and a wound to the back of the head.
