2008 cold case solved…‘Hit man’ killed Essequibo businessman on relative’s orders
-was promised $6M, house and land, but only paid $5,000
“Your relative send me to kill you…”
Those were the last words that Essequibo businessman Habiboodean reportedly heard on February 15, 2008,
Murdered: Habiboodean, 77
before a ‘hit-man’ brutally ended his life on the orders of a disgruntled woman who had coveted the old man’s assets.
Detectives had those chilling words repeated to them yesterday, while listening to the confession of a 28-year-old Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo resident, who allegedly committed the deed on a promise that he would receive “$6M, a house and land” to kill Habiboodean.
But the plotters reportedly only gave him $5,000 and told him to ‘f—k off’ when he asked for the rest of his payment.
Habiboodean, of Ruby, East Bank Essequibo, died at a hospital after being badly beaten in his home on February 15, 2008. Relatives had said that the killers took nothing.
Police had charged the victim’s former employee, Terry Lewton, 38, of Vergenoegen, East Bank Essequibo, and Bibi Nazeela Habiboodean, now 50, of Ruby, East Bank Essequibo, for Mr. Habiboodean’s murder, but those charges were discharged due to insufficient evidence.
But in a stroke of good fortune, police last week detained 28-year-old Linden Lewis, called ‘Bullet,’ and four others, for the murder of Mohamed Munir, 75, and his wife Bibi Jamila Munir, 69, who were burnt to death in their Good Hope, East bank Essequibo home.
It was while he was in custody that investigators learned that he might have more than a passing knowledge of Habiboodean’s death.
Police said that while being interrogated on that case yesterday, Lewis admitted to killing Habiboodeen, while complaining that he had never received full payment for the job.
According to the suspect’s claims, it all began sometime in 2008, when a female relative of the elderly businessman complained that other relatives of Habiboodeen had received properties and other assets, while she had received nothing.
The relative reportedly stated that she wanted the old man’s fuel station, cash he had in a bank, and assets he had in Georgetown.
She reportedly then hired Lewis to kill Mr. Habiboodeen.
Five individuals, including Lewis, reportedly sat down at a Vergenoegen, hideout, East Bank Essequibo, to plan the old man’s death.
Lewis said that the plotters promised to pay him $6M, and provide him with “a house and land.”
On February 15, 2008, the relative reportedly helped Lewis to gain access to Mr. Habiboodeen’s house.
When the ‘hit-man’ entered, the elderly businessman’s house he was sitting in a chair.
“What you doing here?” Mr. Habiboodeen reportedly asked the intruder.
Lewis reportedly replied: “—— (name given) send me to kill you.” He then reportedly struck the 76-year-old repeatedly. Mr. Habiboodeen later succumbed in a hospital.
But Lewis said that instead of giving him the “$6M, house and land” they had promised, the plotters gave him $5,000 “to go into the bush.”
Lewis reportedly fled to the interior, where he remained for two years. It was during this time that police arrested and charged the victim’s former employee, Terry Lewton, and Bibi Nazeela Habiboodean for murder. They were subsequently discharged.
When Lewis returned from the interior in 2010, he approached the plotters and was told that the case had been “dismissed.”
But when the ‘hit man’ asked for his “$6M, house and land,” one of the plotters reportedly told him that all the money had been spent on lawyers. The plotter reportedly then told the ‘hit-man’ to ‘f—off.’
Lewis said that he did not pursue the matter.
Police indicated yesterday that they will expand their investigation this week.