The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) remains mum on allegations which surfaced two days ago concerning the battering and ill treatment of 21-year-old Akeem Charles, who was charged and imprisoned by the Army for going Absent Without Leave (AWOL).
In the December 22nd edition of Stabroek News, it was reported that Charles was being subjected to beatings and inhumane conditions in a Camp Ayanganna cell, where he had been held for more than 30 days.Stabroek News obtained and published a photo of Charles lying on the bare floor of a cell with what appeared to be a swollen eye.
Attempts were made by Stabroek News on Thursday, Friday, and again yesterday to solicit a response from GDF officials to no avail.
Sources said that while on an army training course, Charles had sustained back injuries, for which he attempted to solicit assistance from the doctor on the base. After being unsuccessful in his attempts at gaining medical attention Charles approached the GDF Welfare Department which allegedly informed him that the Army did not have the requisite funds to pay for the medical assistance he required.
This newspaper was told that Charles went AWOL in an effort to solicit assistance for his injury, but turned himself in after the Army published information about him. It was said that upon turning himself in Charles was thrown into the holding cells and told that it would take just over 10 days for his matter to be processed. The source alleges that more than 30 days have now passed since Charles has been incarcerated.
Stabroek News understands that on December 20th, while being escorted to his cell by two MPs, Charles dove into a nearby drain to avoid going back to his cell since the conditions that obtained there became too much for him to bear. It is alleged that a senior soldier and another then proceeded to deal Charles several blows about his body for having done this.
The source stated that after being dealt multiple blows about the body, Charles was thrown back into his cell, naked, after which his cell was soaked with water. It is alleged that the young man’s cell was, from that point, doused with water every half hour, presumably to make him as uncomfortable as possible.
The army has taken a tough stance on soldiers who have gone AWOL in the past, and has also faced similar allegations of inhumane treatment before.
