Senior Reporter
kevon.felmine@guardian.co.tt
The family of missing Cedros fisherman, David Seepaul, said they heard he was reportedly tortured before he was killed, but they are waiting for confirmation from authorities as to how he died.
Seepaul’s son-in-law, Marlon Sookoo, said yesterday that the family received information that an autopsy was conducted on the body found on the coast in Perdernales, Venezuela, between March 5 and 6. It is believed to be Seepaul.
Sookoo said the family has not seen the autopsy report and is waiting on information despite the theories floating around. He added that although the photograph they saw of the body, clad in clothing which appeared to belong to Seepaul, there was no confirmation of the identity.
“We are organising with people from the embassy to get information on how to get the body to come across here. The embassy called yesterday and that was the information they gave, and we wanted information from them as well. They said they would call back today, so we are waiting,” Sookoo said.
Seepaul, 60; his son, Davanan, 35; Braiyer Ali, 21; Shiva Seepersad, 20; and Jeremiah Pasqual, 19, all from Fullerton Village, went to sea aboard the fishing vessel Amanda on February 24. Relatives expected their return around 9.30 pm. The fishermen never came home.
National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds told Parliament that the Coast Guard was searching for the men. However, he noted that the area where the men went to fish was well within Venezuelan waters.
“The men had reportedly gone to an area where Trinidad and Tobago has no jurisdiction.” The minister said the Coast Guard continues to warn fisherfolk that operating in Venezuelan waters is illegal. Sookoo said relatives had no word on whether Venezuelan authorities recovered any other bodies, the boat or engine.