The teen who was tortured while in custody at the Leonora police station has told his mother that three ranks beat him while a fourth interrogated him.
Investigations are ongoing into the incident and President Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday announced that he has given the police two weeks to complete the probe, after which all the perpetrators will face the full consequences. The teen, who was severely burnt in his genital area, remains hospitalized and is under police guard at the Georgetown Public Hospital.
He has said that he would be able to identify the ranks who tortured him, his mother, Shirley Thomas told Stabroek News yesterday. She noted though that while in custody, his head was covered with a black jersey which was taped around his neck. Initial police investigations have led to two policemen being charged for unlawfully assaulting two other prisoners but no charges were filed in relation to the boy because he has not yet identified them.
His condition seems to be improving a little, Thomas stated, but noted that since he was hospitalized a week ago, she has not been able to talk with his doctor. She said that her son is reluctant to speak much about the incident. “When he think over this thing, like he frighten…he eyes start running water”, she said.
The torture of the teen has drawn widespread condemnation. He, along with Deonarine Rafick and Nouravie Wilfred had been arrested following the murder of retired Region Three vice-chairman Ramenaught Bisram, whose nude body was discovered in his home on October 26. Rafick was later charged with the murder and during his court appearance had alleged torture. In court, he displayed signs of a beating and had a gaping wound to his head which required stitches. Wilfred was released without charge after a week in custody.
When he was taken to court, Rafick had told relatives that the teen was “scorched” and they informed the boy’s parents. They investigated but police refused to disclose the lad’s whereabouts. However, they persisted and later found that he was being held at the Leonora police station, the Headquarters of ‘D’ Division. Ranks at Leonora had doused his pelvic area with a flammable liquid and set it afire. It was several days later, following media reports that the boy was taken to the hospital. The Kaieteur News had published a graphic photo of the burns. It is not clear who had taken the photo and under what circumstances but it was taken in the police station.
Following the reports, police launched an investigation and last week Sergeant Narine Lall and Constable Mohanram Dolai, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court charged with the unlawful wounding and felonious wounding of Rafick and Wilfred.
Thomas said yesterday that she needs justice for son. She declared that the policemen must be charged in relation to her son. He can identify them, she stated. According to her, the teen said that after the beatings started, he thought that he would be killed. “He sey mammy, me think me coulda dead”, she recalled.
Jagdeo had said that if the report does not satisfy him other options outside of the police will be considered. The strongest possible action have to be taken against all the perpetrators, the President had stated adding that “this action will not be limited to the direct participants”, but all those involved will have to bear some of the consequences. The opposition parties have announced their distrust in an investigation undertaken by the police saying it lacked credibility and instead, an independent and detailed probe is needed.
As she awaits justice, Thomas has met with staff of the Human Services Ministry and was given a food hamper and also money to make the journey to the hospital. The Ministry has said that it will assist in relation to her three younger children, who are still in school, she disclosed. She said that the teen’s 12-year-old brother appears to be “taking on” his brother’s torture and yesterday fell ill. She said that the smaller children keep asking about their brother.
