-Luncheon
The police force’s investigation of allegations of the torture of a teen boy and two other prisoners would be made public by next Tuesday, according to Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr Roger Luncheon.
Luncheon, speaking at his weekly press conference at Office of the President yesterday, said making the report public is in keeping with a pledge made by President Bharrat Jagdeo, who had asked that the police force be allowed to conduct its investigation. Luncheon said the report was completed and forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Police Complaints Authority, in keeping with “custom practice statute.” He said the report would be handed over to President Jagdeo when he returns to Guyana on Monday and he would make it public.
The police have already charged Constable Mohanram Dolai and Sergeant Narine Lall with the torture of the boy, contending that they unlawfully and maliciously wounded the child with intent to maim, disfigure, disable or cause him grievous bodily harm. The child was allegedly beaten and burnt around his genital area by the two officers and, after the matter was made public, he was taken for medical treatment and was hospitalised for quite sometime. The two police officers were also charged with the unlawful wounding of another man, Deonarine Rafick, who is on remand on a murder charge. A third police man, Corporal Oswald Foo, was also slapped on Wednesday in connection with the wounding of Rafick but he did not appear. Lall and Dolai were
also charged with unlawfully and maliciously wounding Nouravie Wilfred. Magistrate Priya Beharry ordered that Foo and Lall, who was also absent, appear in court next Monday.
The teen and the two men were in police custody in connection with a murder investigation when they were allegedly tortured by the law men.