Yogendra Sukhdeo, who gained notoriety for cultivating a self-styled “mafia” persona on social media under the moniker “El Chapo Escobar,” has pleaded guilty to the 2023 murder of 21-year-old businessman Amit Singh.
Sukhdeo entered his guilty plea before Justice Sandil Kissoon at the Georgetown High Court on Wednesday. His sentencing is scheduled for July 9, 2026.
The brutal killing of Amit Singh, a resident of Delph Street, Campbellville, was described as a crime driven by extreme greed. On October 24, 2023, Sukhdeo, who was a friend of the victim, lured Singh under the pretense of a gold purchase. Trusting the arrangement, the young businessman gathered $7.9 million in cash to finalize the deal.
According to court records, Sukhdeo arrived at Singh’s residence in a vehicle bearing a false number plate. He drove the victim to a property in Middle Road, La Penitence, owned by his father, where he proceeded to beat Singh to death before stealing the cash.
Following the murder, Sukhdeo initially attempted to implicate three of his employees, claiming they had worked with him to rob and kill Singh. However, investigations by the Guyana Police Force quickly dismantled this narrative. After the three individuals provided alibis that were verified by police, Sukhdeo confessed to acting alone.
He admitted to wrapping the victim’s body in a sheet, locking the premises, and transporting the stolen cash to his own home in Diamond.
An autopsy performed by government pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh revealed the severity of the attack. The report confirmed that Amit Singh died from blunt trauma to the head and face, resulting in multiple fractures. The pathologist also noted evidence of blunt trauma to the neck and broncho-aspiration of blood, indicating that the victim had fought for his life before succumbing to his injuries.
As the court prepares for the sentencing on July 9, the conclusion of this trial brings a grim end to a case that shocked the local business community.
