THE family of abducted Lethem businessman Mohamed Khan has raised fresh doubts about his death after an autopsy of the body of a man found in Brazil indicated that it wasn’t that of the Guyanese entrepreneur.
Jeff Ware, the treasurer of the Rupununi Chambers of Commerce, told the Guyana Chronicle yesterday that Khan’s wife, Linda Khan, of Savannah Inn, Lethem, wishes to advise all of Khan’s relatives, friends and business associates that the Brazilian police are still continuing investigations into his disappearance.
The missing man’s wife said she is still not convinced that the skeleton that was found in Brazil is her husband’s.
The body suspected to be that of Khan was found in Sao Silvestre, some 80 kilometers from the Boa Vista capital of the state of Roraima.
Khan was kidnapped on June 2 by a group of Brazilian policemen while he was en route to Boa Vista on business.
His abductors had demanded $5M for his safe release.
A Brazilian pathologist who examined the remains told the family that there are doubts as to whether the remains are that of Khan’s.
According to Mr. Ware, the pathologist said that the bones appeared to be that of someone who had died even before her husband had vanished.
Mr. Ware related that under these circumstances Linda Khan does not wish to arrange any funeral or memorial services at this time.
He also advised that a notice of arrangements would be published as soon as full information on the crime is available to Linda’s satisfaction and when it is certain that Mohamed Khan will not be returning to his family.
Relatives were led to believe that the skeleton found was that of Khan’s because several personal belongings were near the body.
The Lethem businessman was also the President of the Rupununi Chambers of Commerce. (Michel Outridge)