By LAUREL V WILLIAMS Wednesday, August 12 2009

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SEARCHING FOR CLUES: A police crime scene officer seen taking fingerprints from the home in Cottage Road, St Johns, San Fernando where retired police ...

WITH his mouth gagged, tape covering his eyes, and hands tied behind his head, retired police sergeant Harripersad Ramkissoon, 67, was believed to have been murdered by assailants at his San Fernando home.

His body was discovered by his brother Rampersad Ramkissoon, who lives nearby, on Monday at about 8.30 pm in his three-bedroom wooden house located at Cottage Road, St John Village, San Fernando. Police investigators believed the motive for the murder may have been robbery as Ramkissoon’s house was ransacked and his two vehicles, a Nissan B- 13 and B-14, were missing.

Ramkissoon retired from the Police Service about seven years ago after serving for over 35 years at various police stations throughout the country. He has three children and has been separated from his wife for more than ten years, relatives said.

According to grieving relatives, Ramkissoon, who lives alone, was last seen alive on Sunday at about 6 pm on his veranda. A close relative explained that Rampersad and other neighbours realised that both cars were missing and the house lights were on throughout the house.

“ Two of them very close. Rampersad returned from the garden and went to check on him. He started to shake his brother to wake him up. Harripersad hands were tied behind his head with a bandana and mouth gagged with a piece of cloth,” said the woman, who asked that her name not be used.

There were no visible marks of violence on the body. Relatives explained that Ramkissoon celebrated his 67th birthday on July 2 with a prayer meeting at his home. The entire village was in mourning over the death, said a neighbour.

“Inside here was never like this. Harripersad was a strong man who would have given a good fight before his death. We need more police patrols in the area,” one neighbour added.

Following the discovery of the body on Monday night, police officers from the Barrackpore Police Station and Homicide Bureau South visited the scene and started a search for the perpetrators.

Yesterday police investigators were at the house searching for evidence while relatives remained baffled over the murder. Ramkissoon’s body was taken to the Forensic Science Complex, St James, for an autopsy to be performed to determine the cause of death. An arrest is yet to be made.