In the face of constant threats by her alleged kidnapper and an apparent lack of interest by police, the 16-year-old girl who was abducted and held for almost one week returned home to Suriname on Saturday last.
The girl was last week reunited with her family and her relatives called on high level officials to investigate the matter after conflicting reports of the nature of the incident surfaced.
With acting Police Commissioner Leroy Brumell recently ordering an immediate and thorough investigation into the matter, two persons were taken into custody. These arrests were made when the victim identified the Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo home where she was allegedly kept.
The woman, said to be the owner the house, and the brother of the child’s alleged kidnapper were arrested and are currently at the Den Amstel and Leonora Police Stations respectively.
Also present in the house at the time was another minor, aged 15, who claimed to be the woman’s granddaughter. However, it was reported that the girl was actually in a relationship with the suspect’s brother.
The three were taken into custody but the child was subsequently admitted to the West Demerara Regional Hospital to await a representative from the Child Protection Agency to take custody of her.
The child, who is said to be from Canje, Berbice, has refused to provide the police with names of her relatives or contact information.
Meanwhile, a source close to the 16-year-old’s family said the girl’s parents were forced to leave their Maida, Berbice home and return with her to Suriname after interference by the alleged perpetrator and his relatives became unbearable.
“They live across the road from each other and would go in the night and threaten the girl and her family,” the source stated.
This also raised concern among family members about the difficulty with the police at Whim, who were supposed to be pursuing the kidnapper. “He is staying right at his house in Berbice and they can’t find him onto now?” the source questioned.
The individual indicated that officers at this station were informed by those at the Leonora Police Station of the suspect’s whereabouts and were further given instructions to have him arrested, to no avail.
The girl’s parents have reportedly indicated that after the man’s capture they would be willing to return once charges are laid and they are required to attend court. Until then, they said, they felt it was unsafe to remain at their home.
Almost one week ago, the 16-year-old girl accused a man of kidnapping her and taking her to Bush Lot, West Coast Berbice then to the Tuschen home.
