The alleged kidnapper of a 16-year-old girl and the taxi driver that transported her to the homes where she was kept were yesterday arrested and taken into custody at the Whim Police Station.
A source close to the 16-year-old’s family said that police are currently pursuing the parents of the accused. He also noted that after the relative of the child expressed little confidence in the police, who were initially handling the matter, a different team has since been appointed to deal with the issue.
Terrified to stay at their Maida, Berbice home, the family has taken a decision to temporarily move as investigations progress. It was noted that they are fearful of a reprisal with the arrest of the accused.
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 a house at Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo home. There, she said she was locked away in a room and raped and beaten. The taxi driver implicated in the matter reportedly carried the two from Berbice to Tuschen.
The girl, who was held for almost one week, was reunited last week with her family. However, she was forced to return to Suriname, where she lives, after constant threats from the alleged perpetrator and his family, who reportedly lives across the road from her relatives Maida home.
Previously, two persons were taken into custody after the girl identified the Tuschen house, where she claimed to have been kept. There, a woman, who is the alleged owner of the house and the brother of the accused kidnapper were arrested. They have since been released on station bail.
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 is in a relationship with the suspect’s brother and she is currently at the West Demerara Regional Hospital and is to be taken into custody by the Child Protection Agency. The child, who is said to be from Canje, Berbice, has refused to provide the police with names of her relatives or contact information.
