Monroe man faces charges for trying to hire hit man

6/14/2013
BLADE STAFF

MONROE -- A Monroe man is out on bond after being charged with trying to hire a hit man to kill his ex-girlfriend 's boyfriend, police said today.

Thanushan Ra­jendran, 30, was arraigned last week in Monroe County Circuit Court on the charge of so­licitation to commit homicide and was ordered held in lieu of a $50,000 bond pending a hearing next month, Monroe police Sgt. Chris Miller said. After posting 10 percent of the bond, Mr. Ra­jendran was released.

Sergeant Miller said Mr. Ra­jendran, a former manager of a local gas station, showed security camera footage from the station to an employee, identifying the intended victim and allegedly giving $70,000 to the employee to kill the man. Instead, the employee spent the money and turned his boss in to police, the sergeant said.

A police investigation ensued, in which an undercover officer was approached by the suspect with the same offer, the sergeant said. Mr. Rajendran was then arrested.

Sergeant Miller said both the intended target and his girlfriend were upset when told of the murder-for-hire scheme.

If convicted, Mr. Ra­jendran will face a pun­ishment of up to life in prison.