Vehicle tinting specialist Troy Singh was released on $200,000 bail after being detained and questioned by police as part of the ongoing investigation into the 2021 murder of businessman Ricardo ‘Paper Shorts’ Fagundes, according to his attorney, Yuborn Allicock.
Singh was picked up from his residence at around 10:00 hours on Tuesday and taken to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), where he was questioned about allegations surrounding a white Toyota Fielder wagon believed by investigators to be connected to the murder.
Allicock said police alleged that Singh had tinted the vehicle on behalf of businessman and now Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed, but his client denied the claim.
The attorney said Singh maintained that he had never tinted any white Toyota Fielder wagon for Mohamed or any vehicle of that nature.
“He maintained that he never did any tint for Mr. Mohamed for a white Fielder wagon,” Allicock said.
According to the attorney, Singh explained that while he had provided tinting services for Mohamed in the past, those services involved high-end vehicles and were carried out at Mohamed’s residences, including locations at the East Bank Demerara, Eccles and Friendship.
Allicock said Singh also alleged that during questioning, investigators attempted to get him to implicate Mohamed in the murder investigation, but he refused.
“He indicated that they were trying to get him to implicate Mr. Mohamed, which he refused and claimed that he will not be doing such,” the attorney said.
Following Singh’s detention, Allicock said he made representations to police for his client to be granted bail. He said investigators indicated that they intended to use the full 72-hour detention period allowed for questioning.
However, after the 72-hour period had elapsed, Allicock said he contacted senior police officials, including Mitchell Caesar and Hinds, but did not receive a response.
The attorney said he subsequently filed a Habeas Corpus application in the High Court seeking Singh’s release, arguing that his continued detention after the expiration of the 72 hours would have amounted to a breach of his constitutional rights.
Allicock said that after informing an officer of the application, he later learned that Singh was being released on $200,000 bail.
He said the application was withdrawn following Singh’s release, as the legal action had prompted authorities to act on what he described as his client’s constitutional right to liberty.
The attorney reiterated that Singh maintains he had no involvement in the murder and continues to deny ever tinting a white Toyota Fielder wagon for Mohamed.
Fagundes was shot dead outside Palm Court on Main Street, Georgetown, on March 21, 2021. The case has recently seen renewed activity, with police questioning several individuals, including former employees connected to Mohamed.
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