GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC)—The Guyana Police Force says the father of a six-year-old child, whose body was found Tuesday among other debris near the canal by the sea dam in Bath Settlement, Berbice, is assisting their investigations.

The police said that six-year-old Orlando Jaikarran was found after investigators obtained information, including additional surveillance footage showing the child’s father travelling on a motorcycle towards the canal with what appeared to be his son before returning later without the child.

Police Commander in Region Five, Lansdale Withrite, confirmed the discovery of the child’s body and that his father, Bharrat Jaikarran, is the prime suspect and remains in police custody.

“Based on some information that came to light last evening, we conducted a search of the canal that runs next to the sea dam,” Withrite told reporters at the scene.

“That exercise started around quarter to nine and about one o’clock this morning, the body of the missing child was recovered about a mile from this current location.

“We had some additional footage, so we were able to gather some information from the main suspect in this matter, which is the child’s father,” he added.

The father had initially claimed that he was unaware of the child’s whereabouts and had last seen him when he put him to bed on October 13. He reported the boy missing the following day and initially assisted in the search operations.

Police said that the child’s body was found among other debris near the canal, reportedly being eaten by reptiles.

“The public and the members of the community have been very supportive and contributed by coming out and assisting, searching and so on, since this matter was reported,” Withrite said, adding that schools had also played a role in circulating information about the missing child.

“Even the schools and so on were posting that the child was missing, and that was useful in bringing us to this point that we are at the moment,” the commander added.