Gasparillo ‘customer’ charged with businessman's murder

Leon Apping, the man charged with the murder of Gasparillo businessman Anand Maharaj, was expected to appear virtually before a San Fernando magistrate on Friday, the day of Maharaj's funeral.

On Thursday evening, acting deputy Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Joan Honore-Paul instructed police to charge the underwater welder, 29, with murder.

Under the guidance of legal officer Kyrn Lewis, ASP Figaro of the Homicide Bureau Region III supervised the investigations. Cpl Bynoe laid the charge.

Maharaj, 60, was the owner of Triple-A Auto Services Ltd at Jeffers Lane, off Charles Street North.

The funeral, which was streamed live from the family’s home on Friday, saw his three daughters, Ananda, Anushka and Amrika, taking turns to eulogise him.

Ananda told mourners the family was still shocked and reeling from the "unfairness and senseless murder."

But rather than dwelling on his death, the siblings opted to focus on their father’s legacy, sharing stories of his life.

Ananda said he came from a humble beginning, grew up in Brothers Road, and attended the Brothers Road Presbyterian school in Williamsville.

Describing him as a hard worker, Ananda said he started his career in 1979 as a policeman for two years. In 1983, he began working as a plant operator at Point Lisas.

Maharaj used his off days to do landscaping jobs and started the car rental business part-time in 1996, then went full-time business in 1999.

He named the business Triple-A in honour of his daughters, whose names begin with "A."

"Our parents worked hard to ensure we got the best possible education. My dad always helped my mom (Kamla) with everything," she said.

"We had a life of privilege. Mom and Dad always made sure to take us on annual vacation during the holidays. On Saturday evenings, they took us for dinner when time permitted."

Maharaj met his future wife, their mother, at the bank where she worked.

"Whenever my sisters and I felt stressed about work or school, Dad would try to empathise with us, sharing the many hardships he faced throughout his life. He always gave us advice on how to push through tough times," she said. "He put us first, no matter what."

Because of Maharaj, and his wife, the daughters have careers in the medical field. One is a doctor, another a pharmacist, and the third an upcoming doctor.

Maharaj's youngest daughter Amrika said he was widely known to the family and business community as an innovator and a man with integrity.

"Through the fruits of his tireless labour, he provided a very comfortable life for us. He was a simple and humble man," she said. "He practised gardening. His face would light up when the trees bore fruits, the last being guava. He was the handyman of the house. Because of him we developed our love for animals, especially dogs. He went above and beyond for us."

Anushka remembered her father as a prankster who enjoyed playing tricks on everyone.

"Once he laughed it was infectious, such lovey and hearty laughs. Dad was a livewire of the family, the sibling who was always cracking jokes," she said."He enjoyed keeping in contact with his relatives. He kept ties with the people of Brothers Road.

"We will honor his memory. We will ensure that justice prevails."

Maharaj was cremated at the Shore of Peace (Mosquito Creek) site in La Romaine.

Relatives reported that Maharaj left home around 1 pm on Saturday to drop off a Nissan Note car to a nearby customer.

He also had about $20,000 in cash to buy US currency from the customer, at San Fabien Road in Gasparillo.

Hours later, police found Maharaj’s body wrapped in plastic and duct tape stuffed under a couch at the house. An autopsy at the Forensic Sciences Centre in St James found Maharaj died of asphyxia.