Ex-soldier Akeem Charles, who was allegedly abused while in detention at Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Base Camp Ayanganna, has not identified his alleged abusers for the investigation.
A senior GDF official on Tuesday told Stabroek News that one of the main components of the investigation is the identification of the individuals who allegedly abused Charles—which he is required to do himself.
Charles, 21, however, has not been in contact with GDF since he was discharged on January 21.
A source within the GDF had told this newspaper that Charles, who had been a Private, had been found guilty of going Absent Without Leave (AWOL) but was nevertheless released since it was determined that he had already served a substantial period of time in confinement.
Attempts to contact Charles since his release have been futile.
The man’s family subsequently revealed that he had left Georgetown to seek employment in the interior.
The senior official, however, said that efforts will be made to identify persons who may have witnessed the alleged ill-treatment, since they would help to prove or disclaim the incidents. Furthermore, the witnesses may even be able to point out the perpetrators of the abuse.
Nevertheless, for the investigation to be completed, “Charles must present himself to identify his alleged abusers,” the senior officer said.
It is alleged that Charles, who went AWOL to solicit assistance for a back injury he had sustained on a course in the GDF after the army said it lacked the requisite funds to aid him, turned himself in when his information was published.
Stabroek News was told that on Thursday December 20, 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.
