Young father dies after brutal beating, allegedly by man who owed him money

Four days after Lakeram Rambhajue, a 20-year-old speedboat captain and father, was brutally beaten with a piece of wood, he succumbed to his injuries on Thursday at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

The incident occurred on Sunday night in Puruni, Region Seven, where Lakeram lived and worked. His brother, Karan Rambhajue, told the News Room that Lakeram reportedly had offered one of his boats to a man to operate. However, tensions escalated when the man repeatedly failed to pay Lakeram for the use of the boat.

“He has his own boat and engine and everything, so there is this guy, the perpetrator, he give the guy one of his boat to work. The guy was continuously working his boat and not giving him any money or anything,” Karan explained.

And so, Lakeram took back his boat from the man. But, on July 18, the situation turned violent when he attacked Lakeram while at Puruni Landing.

“My brother he took away the boat from the guy and the guy started to pick trouble with my brother. On the 18 of July this year, he went up to the landing and he boxed my brother off he motorbike and my brother went and he made a police report,” Karan explained.

Karan further explained that, following the police report, the suspect then agreed to pay Lakeram $100,000 within one week.

On the night of Sunday, July 21, into early Monday morning, the situation further escalated. According to Karan, the suspect threw a glass bottle at his brother’s face.

“…my brother fell to the ground. That’s when he picked up a piece of wood and started lashing my brother in the head,” Karan said.

Lakeram sustained multiple skull fractures; fragments of his skull were lodged in his brain, resulting in several hemorrhages, Karan explained.

Following the beating, he slipped into a coma and never regained consciousness.

“From the time he got the hit at Puruni, he fell into a coma. He died this morning [Thursday],” Karan said.

Karan stated that the suspect has reportedly admitted to the attack and is currently in custody at the Bartica Police Station. The case has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for further advice.

Meanwhile, Lakeram was remembered by his family as a hardworking and determined young man.

“My brother was a hustler. From a tender age, he started working” Karan said.

He said Lakeram was the father of a two-year-old girl and that his death has taken a toll on the entire family.

Their mother died when Karan and Lakeram were toddlers and the brothers were raised by their grandmother.

“My grandmother hasn’t stopped crying,” Karan said.