The Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has advised that no criminal charges be laid against employees of the New Opportunity Corps (NOC), effectively putting an end to a months-long probe into allegations made by former residents of the remedial facility who are now in the protective care of the child protection agency.
“The DPP has advised that no criminal charges be laid in this matter as there was no incriminating evidence found,” Crime Chief Leslie James told Stabroek News yesterday in a brief comment.
Asked if that was the end of the matter, James said “we work with advice, the police investigate and in those that need advice we seek them…”, adding that the matter is now closed.
James said that the matter was thoroughly investigated and that he took a personal interest in it because of the nature of the allegations and the fact that there was wide press coverage.
“The matter was investigated in a timely manner and all aspects of the law was followed,” he further stated.
In June, James had told this newspaper that criminal charges were likely to be laid against the four staff members of the NOC at the centre of the physical and sexual abuse allegations.
He had said there was a “high likelihood” that charges would be laid against the four persons, one of whom was employed on a part-time basis. He had further said that the implicated persons were questioned and they had all denied the allegations.
While the allegations were made months ago, the authorities only became involved when the parents of the girls made a formal complaint at the Child Care and Protection Agency (CC&PA), which in an unprecedented move applied to the High Court for the victims to be removed from the institution. The order was granted and the girls were released into the care of the agency and they remain there while work is being done to build their self-esteem and give them an opportunity to pursue studies.
Reports were that allegations were levelled against three male employees of the NOC. This newspaper was informed that sex abuse allegations had been made against a teenager who was hired by the institution to teach information technology and it is believed that he struck up relations with at least one of the girls who is under the age of sixteen. The teenager had only worked at the institution for a short period. Two other males with years of service at the institution were also accused, according to sources. One was accused of physical abuse and the other of sexual abuse. Reports were that the girls have alleged that one of the men had been “touching them in a certain manner” which amounted to him abusing them sexually.
The girls had reported to their parents that they were treated horribly in what they called the “detention room” at the facility—described as the “quiet room” by officials—where they have said that apart from being placed in the room for days almost naked, they were also denied food and forced to defecate and urinate in a bucket that remained in the room unemptied.
There are also reports of a special hose being used to administer corporal punishment and of regular cavity searches being conducted.
The allegations came following the March escape of several residents from the institution for which they were all charged. The four girls had alleged that they were forced to have sex with some male residents of the facility who had found their hideout and took food for them during the two days they managed to avoid recapture.
A source had described the detention room, as being “worse than Brickdam Police Station.” A source had also told this newspaper that some stakeholders were shocked when they observed the room at the facility, which is expected to reform young offenders placed there by the court for a period.
“It is surprising that there is such a room at NOC, you should not have such a room at a facility which does not cater for hardened criminals but really seeks to reform young children and equip them with a skill,” a source had said.
“The children spoke of a detention room… this is a concrete room with a grilled bar and door.
There is no bed, there is no mattress, there is no sheet and there is no washroom facility. They spoke of having to defecate and urinate in a bucket and they are left in there for two or three days without the bucket being changed,” APNU MP Christopher Jones, who had been at the forefront of making the abuse allegations public, had told this newspaper.
Observers have said this recent decision not to charge may further deter those who have been abused from complaining.
The NOC abuse allegations added to a series of other problems at the facility. Despite several promises, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr Frank Anthony is yet to release the final report on a mass breakout from the NOC in May 2012 and the burning down of two buildings.
The final report was handed over several months ago after a long delay. The problems at the NOC have seen calls for its removal from under the control of the Ministry of Youth.
