The Police Report on investigations into the torture meted out to a 15-year-old boy at the Leonora Police Station, which was supposed to be made public yesterday, was not released up to press time last night.
Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon had inform-ed the media at a press conference last week that the report would be released yesterday.
“It is with the President and it will be released shortly,” Kwame McCoy, Informa-tion Liaison Officer to the Office of the President, said when questioned yesterday afternoon about when the report would be released to the media.
McCoy told Stabroek News via telephone that he was aware yesterday’s date had been set for the release of the Police Report but, he stressed, “The day is not yet over”. Despite McCoy’s statements a copy of the report was not made available to this newspaper up to press time last night.
On November 5, President Bharrat Jagdeo announced that he had given the Guyana Police Force (GPF) two weeks to complete an investigation into the torture allegations, after which all the perpetrators would face the full consequences. The President said that if the report did not satisfy him other options would be considered.
In a press statement on November 19 the Ministry of Home Affairs announced that the GPF had completed its investigations. The report, they’d said, was given to the Director of Public Prosecu-tions (DPP) for advice. The release had further said that the Ministry of Home Affairs was told the DPP has the file under active consideration and the GPF will be advised on the matter shortly.
“Following receipt of the advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Commissioner of Police will provide the Minister of Home Affairs with the Police Report and the Director of Public Prosecution’s advice which will eventually be made public in keeping with His Excellency’s public commitment,” the release had said.
The teen was among several persons from the Canal Number Two area who were arrested for questioning into the murder of retired Region Three vice-chairman Ramenaught Bisram. Two other suspects who were held have also alleged that they were beaten by the police.