The charges are to be laid against the lawmen, both attached to the Leonora Police Station, even as the embattled Guyana Police Force (GPF) yesterday announced it was embarking on a mission to sensitise its members on the use of force in all policing divisions countrywide.
Sources confirmed late yesterday afternoon that Sergeant Narine Lall, who has served the force for at least six years, and Constable Mohanram Dolai, who has served for at least five years, will be appearing in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court. Dolai, according to reports, was previously attached to the Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station. The duo was arrested shortly after the publication of a photograph of the injured teen on Saturday. The two persons, held along with the teen for questioning in the murder of ex-Region Three Vice Chairman Ramenauth Bisram, also alleged that they were beaten by the police while in custody. They were subsequently taken to the Tactical Services Unit (TSU), Eve Leary as investigations continued. This newspaper was told that the investigations intensified yesterday as statements were taken from several more ranks at the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), which has been tasked with the investigation.
Police, in a press release yesterday, said that resulting from investigations conducted by the OPR into allegations of the “excessive use of force on prisoners” by ranks at Leonora Police Station, “two ranks are likely to be charged today (yesterday) and to appear in court tomorrow (today) in Georgetown.” The policemen were not identified.
As of late yesterday afternoon, Commander Paulette Morrison, who is responsible for the division where the incidents occurred, was still on the job. There have been calls for her to be interdicted from duty but a well-placed source told Stabroek News yesterday that this was easier said than done.
The source explained that this could only be done by the Police Service Commission on completion of the investigations into the allegations against the policemen. This newspaper was also told that the Commander could face disciplinary action for not properly supervising her ranks, which led to the torture and brutalising of the three suspects.
A Criminal Investigation Department (CID) rank, the source pointed out, can also be disciplined since he should have been reporting the developments in the investigation to the Commander.
The source told this newspaper that on conclusion of the internal investigation, a file will be forwarded to the Police Complaints Authority for its input since the matter involves policemen.
It was explained that the Police Service Commission deals with the interdiction of ranks above sergeant.
Use of force
Meanwhile, the GPF revealed yesterday that following recent reports of excessive use of force and ill treatment of prisoners by police ranks, it would commence a series of Instruction Classes in all the policing divisions and at force headquarters today.
These classes will focus on the Use of Force and the Standard Operation Proce-dures for ranks on patrol duties, both traffic and general duty ranks at stations.
The classes will be conducted by teams of teams of senior officers, including the Commissioner of Police Henry Greene, Assistant Commissioner Paul Slowe, Assistant Commissioner Krishna Lekhraj, Assistant Commissioner Clinton Conway, Assistant Commis-sioner Seelall Persaud, Senior Superintendent Cortland Gordon, and Senior Super-intendent Neil Semple along with others.
Just over a week ago, Bisram was discovered naked in his Canal Number Two Polder home, with stab wounds. A briefcase with money, documents and other items, was discovered missing, leading investigators to believe the culprits had come with the intention of robbery. In the hours after the discovery, several persons including the trio allegedly tortured were held. They all lived in the area where the incident occurred.
One of the three, Deonarine Rafick, was later charged with murder and he appeared at the Wales Magistrate’s Court last Friday with visible injuries to his body. His lawyer, Pamela De Santos, had brought this to the attention of the court.
The following day the graphic picture of the burnt teenager appeared on the front page of the Kaieteur News and his parents later told the media that the ranks had refused to divulge his location and had them searching different stations for him.
On the insistence of his parents and the intervention of his lawyer Khemraj Ramjattan, the child was taken for medical attention and has been hospitalised.
The relatives of Nouravie ‘Navin’ Wilfred, another of the trio, alleged that he was cuffed repeatedly by investigating ranks and he spent more than the 72 hours permitted in custody without being taken to doctor for his injuries.
Home Affairs Minster Clement Rohee has since said that the policemen have crossed the line but urged that due process must be allowed to take its course.
He told members of the media during a press conference that he had given general and specific directions to Commissioner Greene about changes in the division in the wake of the allegations.
