-after DPP withdraws charges
Deonarine Rafick, the man charged with the murder of retired Region Three Vice-Chairman Ramenauth Bisram, was freed on Wednesday, two weeks after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) withdrew proceedings against him.
“Wednesday night he come home and we surprise because we din know anything,” his mother, Dasee Rafick told Stabroek News yesterday. “We just surprise he come home….me start cry all,” the relieved woman said.
She explained that the charge was withdrawn about two weeks ago but her son was only released on Wednesday and he made his way home to his shocked relatives.
The woman told this newspaper that her son is not feeling well and his face is swollen and black and blue. She also stated that he is limping. Relatives plan to take Rafick to the hospital next week. Now, the woman said, they have sent him on a short vacation because he was severely traumatized by the time spent in prison. She stated that his injures all stem from the beatings he received from the police when he was initially held for the murder of Bisram.
Rafick, Nouravie Wilfred and a 15-year-old had been arrested following the murder of Bisram. 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. It was later discovered that the teen was burned in the genital area and he was subsequently hospitalised. Wilfred, meanwhile, was released without charge after a week in custody.
Since then, police launched an investigation and Sergeant Narine Lall and Constable Mohanram Dolai were charged with the unlawful wounding and felonious wounding of Rafick and Wilfred. The charge as it relates to Rafick was later withdrawn and a joint unlawful wounding charge was instituted against Lall, Dolai and Corporal Oswald Foo. According to the charges, on October 28, at the Leonora Police Station, Lall, Dolai and Foo unlawfully and maliciously wounded Rafick, with intent to maim, disfigure, disable or cause him grievous bodily harm. Lall and Foo have also been charged with unlawfully wounding the teen.
They are out on bail.