A man, who said he was set on fire after methylated spirits was poured on his body, is accusing the police of dragging their feet on the issue as it involves one of their members and two members of the Guyana Defence Force.
Raonel Bharrat recently told Stabroek News that he was beaten and then set on fire over a stolen mobile phone. He said the incident occurred on January 27 and the police are yet to lay charges even though they have received statements not only from himself but his alleged perpetrators and a confrontation was held between them. He said every time he visits the East La Penitence Police Station he is being “pushed around” and he has gone as far as visiting the office of the Commissioner of Police, but yet no one has been charged.
Last week Thursday, the man said, he was told by the officers that they had sent the file to the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecu-tions (DPP) who in turn had sent it back to them and instructed them to take more statements. But the man said when he visited the DPP’s office he was told that no such file was sent to the office. Stabroek News attempted to ascertain the status of the investigation from the police Public Relations Office but no answers were available.
Giving an account of the incident Bharrat said he lives in Hadfield Street with a female cousin and other relatives. He said his cousin is involved in a relationship with a soldier (name given), and one night the man slept there and reportedly lost his mobile phone. Bharrat said on January 27, the soldier and a policeman, who is involved with Bharrat’s half sister, visited the house and called him out. He said the policeman (name given), told him the soldier had alleged that he had stolen his phone. He said he told the policeman that he knew nothing about the phone. The police officer then told the soldier to do what he wanted, Bharrat said, and the man, along with his cousin, started to beat him with a gun and their fists. He said shortly afterwards another GDF rank came and joined in beating him.
According to Bharrat, while the police officer never hit him he stood up and watched him being beaten. After a while, he said, one of the ranks asked for some methylated spirits which was provided by his cousin and it was poured on him and a match lit, setting him afire. He said after he started to scream neighbours came out and told the men that they could not do that to him and assisted in putting the fire out.
The men left and he went to the hospital and was treated but was not admitted. The injuries caused from the burns are visible along with others that Bharrat said were caused by the beating. He said after he received a medical certificate, he made a report to the police station and the men were also contacted and statements were taken while a confrontation was held.
He said after some time he met with a Mr Persaud at the Brickdam Police Station who told him that he needed another medical certificate, as the injuries he was seeing on him were not recorded on the first medical certificate.
Bharrat said he did as he was told and took the certificate to the station. He said that since then he has been attempting to see Mr Persaud as the matter is not going to court but he has been unsuccessful.
He then visited the commissioner’s office and spoke to his assistant who in turn gave him a letter to take to Mr Persaud. However, up to last week Thursday Bharrat and his mother, who has been with him since, were unable to meet the officer.
Since the incident Bharrat said he moved out of the home as he is fearful for his life. “They cannot just do that to people and expect to get away with it, it is not fair,” the man, who is a vendor, said.
