Fruit vendor murdered in Caroni

A 22-year-old  fruit vendor of Endeavour Village, Chaguanas, was found dead at the Caroni cremation site around 7.15 pm on Wednesday.

Police investigators believe Roland Boodhai was abducted, strangled and his body was then dumped at the cremation site. Around 5.30 pm, relatives of Boodhai received a telephone call from a man who claimed he had been kidnapped and demanded $3 million for his safe return. Relatives were instructed to raise the money by 6 pm. A report was made to the Chaguanas Police Station. Around 6.30 pm, the same male caller again telephoned Boodhai’s relatives and told them not to bother raising the money since he was already dead and his body was at the Caroni cremation site. Officers led by Snr Supt Philip Carmona and including ASP Anthony Bernard, Cpl Remy and others went to the Caroni cremation site along with a District Medical Officer.

The victim, who was clad in a jeans, white and blue sneakers and blue and white jersey was found lying in a patch of bushes. The body was viewed by the DMO and ordered removed to the Forensic Science Centre. The victim’s mother, Chandroutie Boodhai, told Newsday that she did not speak with her son on Wednesday since she was late for work. She was told of his kidnapping late Wednesday. She said her son never troubled anyone, lived a peaceful life and she had no idea why he was killed.