Dear Editor,
A bizarre daylight attack on me occurred on August 1 last, and from then to now after more than a month the police have remained silent about my suffering and excruciating pain. No evidence surfaced against me as having committed any offence whatsoever.
Around 10am on the day in question, I was standing alone on the eastern side of the Affiance public road awaiting transportation to my Onderneeming Sand Pit home, when a privately owned jeep drove up to me and stopped. Two men in civilian clothes holding handguns came out and said they were policemen. One of them then snatched me by my pants waist and dumped me in the vehicle in which a well-known businessman was seated along with another person who was the driver.
Whilst in the jeep both ranks unleashed a barrage of blows with their fists about my body as the vehicle proceeded to my home during which time I was requested to talk but on enquiring about what, no explanation was given. A search was conducted at my home but the ranks left empty handed.
Thereafter, the two ranks continued to inflict more cuffs on me en route to Anna Regina police station compound where the worst injuries were sustained.
On being taken to a CID back room I was ordered to sit on a low bench when one of the ranks kicked me in my rib cage. I was then placed in the lock-ups with the unbearable pain making me so uncomfortable that I kept crying out to get medical treatment.
When this was done, an X-Ray revealed that three of my ribs were broken and I was admitted to the Suddie hospital where I remained for one week.
During my stay at the hospital the same businessman who was in the jeep offered me one hundred thousand dollars to settle the matter after expressing regret and apologizing for having made a serious mistake. Another civilian also approached me to accept a similar amount as a settlement, but I rejected the offers for the simple reason that I was not involved in any wrongdoing and the ranks had no right to brutalise me.
From all appearances it would seem that the ranks were under instructions from the businessman to target me and to the best of my knowledge the Force was not created for this purpose.
All that I have been hearing is that some things were stolen from the premises of the businessman and that two young men who are the prime suspects were seen in a hire car driven by me.
Even after being discharged from the Suddie Hospital I had to seek further medical treatment in the city. My main concern is to see that justice is done in this matter.
Yours faithfully,
Deon Gherow
Editor’s note
We are sending a copy of this letter to Commissioner of Police, Mr Seelall Persaud, for any comment he might wish to make.