Trinidad: Rachael Sukhdeo’s husband, brother, brother-in-law and now cousin murdered

(Trinidad Express) The killings that started with the slaying of multi-millionaire auto and real estate dealer Sheron Sukhdeo, continue.

On Monday night Naresh Basant, a cousin of Sheron’s wife Rachael Sukhdeo, was gunned down.

Basant, 39, of Caroni Savannah Road, Charlieville, was killed at Corial Village, Carapichaima around 6.45 p.m.

Police said that residents claimed they saw nothing of Bassant’s killing.

And on Saturday night, Hardath Solomon who police described as a hitman, and a close associate of Sukhdeo was was shot dead on Saturday in a drive-by attack near Freeport police station around 7 p.m.

Detectives said that Solomon, 42, had been linked to Sukhdeo and reputed criminal mastermind Selwyn “Robocop” Alexis.

Alexis was gunned down in July 2017, and Sukhdeo met the same fate in March 2018.

On March 26, 2018, in a hail of bullets near his wife’s relatives’ home at Charlieville, Sukhdeo was murdered.

Two weeks later, his brother in law brother, Phillip Basant, was gunned down at the very corner.

Sukhdeo’s neighbour, Joshua Plaza, 21, was killed on April 22.

The multi-millionaire’s employee Erwin Beckles was shot dead weeks later on May 14.

Sukhdeo’s wife, Rachael Sukhdeo, and two children fled the country even though barbed wire was installed over their mansion days after Sukhdeo’s funeral.

The barbed wire, secured to lengths of steel, surrounds the perimeter and stands more than 20 feet tall at the property at the corner of Xavier and Tenth Streets, Orchard Gardens in Chaguanas.

Known as “World Boss”, Sukhdeo owned a fleet of at least 15 luxury vehicles, eight speed boats, ten jet skis and two small aircraft, as well as two buses, 12 mini vans, and four taxis. He was also the owner of seven houses and six apartments, a restaurant and owned other businesses.

Sukhdeo first appeared in the Chaguanas court in February 2016 charged with committing the act of assault occasioning actual bodily harm against his wife at their Orchard Gardens, Chaguanas, home.

The charges were laid after his wife Rachael Sukhdeo posted photos of her alleged injuries on social media, with blue and black marks on the face, chest and legs.

The posts sparked national outrage, with women groups speaking up, and the police taking the woman to a safe house.

Months later the mother of two told the court that they had reconciled and she no longer wished to pursue the matter.

The case was dismissed after she said she was not forced, threatened or induced into her decision and the case was dismissed.

On Carnival Monday 2017, Sukhdeo was again hauled before the court charged with receiving two stolen cars and fraud.

He was never convicted of a crime.

His brother, Sheldon Sukhdeo, was kidnapped for a $2 million ransom in December, and his burnt body found weeks later.

All of the killings remain unsolved.

And on May 12 (Mothers’ Day) an attempt was made on the life of Rachael Sukhdeo.

The mother of two, was leaving a nightclub in Chaguanas early on Sunday, when gunmen began firing on her.

Rachael Sukhdeo was not hit, and was able to escape the scene and made a report at the Chaguanas Police Station.

She was with a male companion and other people at time of the attack.

Witnesses reported seeing masked men fleeing the scene.

Several vehicles and the nightclub building were hit by bullets.