Duo denies deadly 2018 pirate attack

Berbice businessman Nakool Manohar called “Fyah” and co-accused Premnauth Persaud called “Sinbad” pleaded not guilty to their involvement in the deadly pirate attack off the coast of Suriname in 2018.

Manohar, formerly of Number 43 Village, Corentyne, and Persaud, of Cromarty Village, appeared before Justice Navindra Singh at the Berbice High Court.

The men denied that between April – June in 2018, while in Guyana’s territorial waters, they murdered Mahesh Sarjoo called “Kuba” and Tilaknauth Mohabir called “Camion” on board the vessel Romina SK 764 that was under a piracy attack.

It was further alleged that the men, during the same period, murdered Bandara called “Spanish man”, Laita Sumair called “Bora”, and Lokesh DeCouite, on board the vessel Joshua SK 1418 that was under attack while committing the offence of piracy.

The State is represented by special prosecutor attorney Latchmie Rahamat and State prosecutor Nafeeza Baig.
A 12-member jury was empanelled and the hearing of evidence commenced on Monday.

Local and Surinamese authorities had firmly believed that the attack was one of revenge after Manohar’s brother, Somnauth Manohar, was gunned down in Suriname.

The attack on four fishing boats 30 miles (48 km) from the coast of Suriname was described by former President David Granger as a “massacre.”

Of the twenty fishermen attacked, several are still missing and considered dead. Five men survived.