A pujari held over the murder of six-year-old Orlando Jaikarran in West Coast Berbice has been released on bail, police said on Tuesday, while the search for the child's missing remains continues.
Region Five Commander Senior Superintendent Lonsdale Whithrite confirmed the release of the Bath Settlement religious leader on Tuesday morning. On Saturday, October 24, he said investigators were doing additional work on the case file, which would be returned, and that the man was expected to be charged shortly.

Orlando's head and portions of his limbs have not been recovered. Whithrite had dismissed social media claims that the head was found in an ice cooler, saying the search was ongoing.
The child's father, Bharrat Jaikarran, 45, a cane harvester of Waterloo, Bath Settlement, was remanded to prison on Friday, October 23, the day his son was buried.
Jaikarran appeared before Magistrate Shareefah Parks at the Weldaad Magistrate's Court, where the murder charge was read to him. He was not required to plead to the indictable charge.
He indicated that he wanted to speak, but Police Prosecutor Sergeant Garfield Edwards objected, telling the court that the accused had already confessed and that the matter was not a trial. Jaikarran also alleged that he had been beaten in police custody.

The prosecutor said the case file was complete and legal advice had been sought, while investigations involving the other accused person continue. The matter was transferred to the Fort Wellington Magistrate's Court for November 12, 2026, for a report.
Orlando's badly decomposed body was found in the Waterloo Main Canal, near the sea dam at Bath Settlement, in the early hours of Tuesday, October 20, nearly a week after he was reported missing.

Police said preliminary investigations indicated he was taken to the canal on Thursday, October 15, and struck on the neck with a cutlass. Further enquiries on October 20 led to the recovery of several items of evidential value at the location.
Police also searched a residence at Bath Settlement, seizing six cutlasses and other items, which were lodged as exhibits. Orlando's father and the pujari were arrested as investigations progressed.
A post-mortem examination on Wednesday, October 21, was inconclusive.