Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard has given instructions for two close relatives of business magnates Mahase and Darling Rampersad to be charged with their murders. Charges were expected to be laid late yesterday against a 37-year-old man and his 28-year-old ex-wife. The couple spent the weekend in prison and they are expected to appear before a San Fernando magistrate today to answer the charge of murder.
Police officers headed by Supt Cyril Henry, Cpl Terry Chadee, Cpl Ashley Mungroo and Legal Officer Sgt Arnold Lutchman, made a breakthrough in the case after acquiring new evidence. Mahase, 64, and Darling, 62, were kidnapped from the driveway of their Bennett Street, Palmiste, home ten years ago. Their bodies were found in Woodland three days after they disappeared.
The Rampersads, originally from Barrackpore, were the founders of M Rampersad Auto Supplies Limited which spawned a chain of multi-million dollar operations, including Maska Limited. Police said at the time of her death, Darling was worth more than $13 million, including five insurance policies worth US$300,000. On the day before they died, the couple spent the day at the home of their daughter, Geeta, who hosted a birthday party.
In the weeks after they died, police quizzed several close relatives and there was speculation that the couple could have been murdered for their money. Contacted yesterday, Geeta said they had no official word from police as yet that any charges were to be laid. She added that the family wanted closure on the matter but would make a further comment later.