Police have arrested the alleged mastermind behind the fire that destroyed the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) building at Burnham Drive, Wismar, Linden one year ago.
The alleged mastermind, who was arrested early Friday morning, has been identified as William Roy Marshall. He is the driver of the Regional Chairman of Region 10, Deron Adams.
His arrest was confirmed by the Head of the Guyana Police Force (GPF)’s Corporate Communications Unit, Mark Ramotar. It was also related that Marshall was arrested based on ongoing investigations by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID).
A relative of Marshall, in a Facebook post, stated that the driver was taken from his home on Thursday night by three individuals in plain clothing, who were presumably police officers. According to the relative, Marshall’s wife said that he was not told what he was being arrested for but that he was being taken to the Mackenzie Police Force.
The relative said that police in Linden were unaware of his arrest.
When contacted by the News Room on Friday morning, Adams said that he received a call from Marshall’s wife after midnight informing him of what had transpired. Adams said he did not have any other details but encouraged the wife to make a police report, since she was concerned that Marshall may have been kidnapped.
Before the arrest of Marshall, two men who were arrested on July 05, 2021, in connection with the fire that destroyed the building one year ago, reportedly confessed to being paid to execute the arson.
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum confirmed on Thursday that investigators have secured confession statements from the suspects who were identified as 23-year-old Teon February called “Nut” of Canvas City, Wismar, and 21-year-old Marlon Hunter called “Bushy” of Fourth Street, Silver Town, Wismar.
The two were arrested exactly one year after committing the act.
The arson was committed at the height of political uncertainty when the APNU+AFC Coalition refused to give up power although it was clear from a national vote recount that it had lost the March 2020 elections.
