The Guyana Police Force in a press release expressed concern that efforts are “apparently being made to stymie the expeditious conclusion of the investigations into this matter.”
According to the release issued yesterday afternoon, as investigations continued into the allegations made by relatives of the teen who was in custody at the Leonora Police Station, the parents of the teenager were contacted.
The necessary arrangements were put in place in the usual manner for an identification parade using the one-way mirror slated for 10.30 am at the CID Headquarters, Eve Leary, in an effort for the teen to identify the suspects.
The release added that the police’s OPR arranged transportation for the victim and his stepfather, Doodnauth Jaikarran, to travel to the OPR at Eve Leary and to wait in the area until they were ready.
“Subsequently, just as they were about to leave for CID Headquarters, Mark Benschop arrived at
Police Headquarters, Eve Leary, and requested to see Assistant Commissioner H. Mackhanlall of the OPR Department,“ it added stating that Benschop enquired about the status of the teen and was told that he was there for an ID parade.
Benschop then responded that he was “representing the victim” in the absence of his lawyer who was overseas and that the boy should not attend the ID parade in the absence of his lawyer. He was then told by Mackhanlall that there would be no further discussions with him and he left the building.
Further, the release said, Benschop spoke briefly to the victim’s stepfather before leaving the compound.
Jaikarran then told Mackhanlall that his stepson would not attend the ID parade without his lawyer Khemraj Ramjattan being present.
“He refused for his stepson to go on the identification parade as arranged for today and requested that it be held upon the availability of his lawyer Mr Khemraj Ramjattan at some unknown date,“ the release added.
