PARAMARIBO – Police have arrested four Chinese men in the investigation into the deaths of 23-year-old twin brothers Hu Pengfei and Hu Tengfei. The brothers were brought lifeless to the Emergency Department of the University Hospital Paramaribo on March 31.
The suspects, identified as ZY, AX, HM and ZS, were apprehended by detectives from the Capital Crimes Unit. The preliminary police investigation shows that the victims were transported to the hospital that day from a building on Martin Luther Kingweg in Wanica.
According to the initial report, four Chinese men were taken to the emergency room. Two of them were dead on arrival, while the other two were in critical condition and showed symptoms of poisoning, including severe vomiting. It was suspected that there was gas poisoning that occurred under still unclear circumstances in the Para district.
Research in the business field
The Capital Crimes Unit immediately launched an extensive investigation into the cause of death and the circumstances under which the incident took place. The activities on a site on Martin Luther Kingweg were also examined.
The investigation revealed that the twin brothers worked at a cement processing company. When the police investigated the company, they found four Chinese men whose residence permits had expired. They were arrested and brought to trial.
After consultation with the Public Prosecution Service, the four were placed in custody pending further investigation for violations of the Aliens Act.
Victims probably died for hours
According to sources, Hu Pengfei and Hu Tengfei already showed clear signs of rigor mortis upon arrival at the hospital on March 31. It is deduced that they had probably died several hours earlier.
The identity of the two other men admitted could not initially be determined because they were unresponsive due to their critical condition.
A total of five men, considered to be escorts of the group of victims, were taken to Munder police station for questioning. However, communication with them was difficult due to a language barrier.
It was striking that their clothing was covered in cement. This strengthened the suspicion that the group carried out work in the construction or cement sector. The victims were allegedly exposed to a dangerous gas concentration at the work location.
The Capital Crimes department continues the investigation.
