Chief Justice (ag) Ian Chang yesterday granted pre-trial liberty to the two policemen implicated in the torture of a teen boy while he was in their custody.
The officers, Sergeant Narine Lall and Constable Mohanram Dolai, did not appear but their attorney Hukumchand secured bail for them in the sum of $150,000, and $175,000 respectively, following a bail hearing in the High Court. The men’s release coincided with the discharge of the teen from the Georgetown Public Hospital.
Recently, the officers appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court charged with the unlawful wounding and felonious wounding of two prisoners on Wednesday. No charges were filed in relation to the boy since he had not yet identified the accused. The duo was not required to plea to the indictable charges laid jointly against them and were remanded to prison by acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson.
According to the charges brought against the two policemen, between October 20 and 29 at the Leonora Police Station, West Coast Demerara, they unlawfully and maliciously wounded Nouravie Wilfred. It is also alleged that on October 28, at the same police station, they unlawfully and maliciously wounded Deonarine Rafick, with intent to maim, disfigure, disable or cause him grievous bodily harm.
Wilfred, Rafick and the teen had been arrested following the murder last week of retired Region Three vice-chairman Ramenaught Bisram. A wounded and battered Rafick has since been charged with the murder and remanded to prison, while Wilfred was released after having been in custody for a week. The teen had been severely burnt in his genital area and it was only after the case was reported in the media that he was taken to the hospital.
