Dear Editor,
Despite the letter which was published in Stabroek News on March 21 (‘I believe my son Keino is being targeted by the police’) the police continued to harass my son Keino Thompson. After the robbery charge, the only possession which was returned to him was the bicycle. The police at Central Police Station still have not returned the $18,000 they took from his pocket.
The bicycle was stolen from him at a supermarket. Keino saw the bicycle a couple of days later at the said supermarket and retrieved it, and was charged for theft of the bicycle. The person who claims it was his could not produce a document stating he had bought the bicycle. I know the bicycle because I have collected it from the police when Keino was placed on a robbery charge and two additional charges in December 2009.
On Thursday night (April 8) he and a friend went to purchase Chinese food. The friend and Keino were going home and were stopped by a police officer (name given). The officer came out of the police van, searched them and found a small mango knife that Keino explained to him he had borrowed to cut up mangos to sell the next day, but the two boys were placed in the lockups and booked for having an offensive weapon. The other boy was released but my son was charged. He was also charged with disorderly behaviour because he said that 6he was not getting food, not being allowed a call to inform his mother or get a bath, was feeling bad and not being able to breathe properly, owing to a cold he contracted when he was in there before.
I am of the opinion that my son is being singled out and targeted by the police because he was a student at the New Opportunity Corps (NOC). He was there for wandering; he is no thief; he is no robber. Keino has a good recommendation from the NOC that was read in the probation report and in the community where he lives, that is, Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam. I had gone to the police and the welfare officer and informed them that he was not going to school when I sent him, and was walking on the road and fighting with other boys. Charges were made out and he was sent to NOC.
I don’t need the court to be misled by the prosecution saying he was in the NOC for robbery under arms. This caused the magistrate to remand a 16-year-old to New Amsterdam prison. When he was rejected there he was placed at Central Police Station where prisoners aren’t given meals.
They should give the prisoners bail so they can eat at home because the station is not providing meals for them.
This is the first time my son was not given station bail although others accused of far more serious offences were given. I am asking those in authority and the Commissioner to look into the targeting of innocent youngsters in B Division.
Yours faithfully,
Doris Sharper
