Deadly pirate attacks: Suspects appear in court

Terry D, Chris P, Doodnath M, Rameshwaru R, Madre K, David W, Ramdeo P, Premnath P, Sureshdien N, Feroz B, Ray T and Ganesh B on Thursday appeared before Judge Marie Mettendaf for their alleged involvement in de deadly pirate attacks in the Atlantic Ocean off Suriname.

The assault in late April on four fishing boats 48 km from the coast was described by Guyana’s President David Granger as a “massacre” and a major setback to curbing piracy long rife in the waters off both nations.

District Attorney Mirella van Dijk told the court that the defendants had committed homicide, violent theft and aggravated assault. Defense Attorney Murwin Dubois told the court that he had asked the attorney general for the telephone records of his client, Ramdeo P. The attorney general responded on November 5 by indicating that he had asked the telephone company for the telephone records on October 31. Ramdeo P who claims that the phone records will prove his innocence denied any involvement in the gruesome attacks on more than two dozen fishermen.

Investigators believe that Ramdeo P and Doodnath M gave the order for the deadly attacks and armed robberies. The defendants are due back in court on December 11. Of the 25 victims only 8 survived the attacks. 12 victims are still missing.

The pirates reportedly burned the Guyanese fishermen with hot oil, attacked them with machetes and forced them overboard tied to anchors.

The Surinamese government temporarily suspended fishing off its coast after the deadly attacks.