Cutlass wielding men attack crew at sea; three missing

Investigations are being conducted into a report that about 23:00hrs on Friday May 27, 2016, boat captain Seepersaud Persaud, 43 years, of No.78 Village, Corentyne, and four crew members were aboard a boat in the Lower Shell area, Nickerie, when another boat with five men armed with cutlasses came up alongside.

The armed men boarded Persaud’s boat where they took away two 48hp outboard motor engines, tied up the four crew members and threw Persaud overboard. He was subsequently rescued by the crew of another fishing vessel in the area after drifting for some time.

Later, when the men were pulling up their seine they found the body of Hemchand Sukhdeo, 44 years, of No.55 Village, Corentyne, caught in the seine. Hemchand Sukhdeo was one of the four crew members of Persaud’s boat.

The area was searched but neither the vessel nor the other three crew members have been located.

While at sea Persaud managed to contact persons at the No.66 Fishing Complex and informed them of the incident and gave a description of the boat that was used by the perpetrators.

During Saturday morning, acting on information received, the police went to the No.65 Village Foreshore, Corentyne, where they saw a boat matching the description given. Five men who were aboard have been arrested and are in police custody assisting with the investigations.

The Suriname Police authorities have been informed of the incident.