The Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) yesterday revealed that the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has instructed the Guyana Police Force to broaden the investigation into the alleged gang rape of a woman in Mahdia late last month.
Initially, the DPP had advised the police to institute a charge of assault causing actual bodily harm against one man, but according to a release from the GHRA, after further statements and photographs were provided to the DPP’s Chambers a decision was taken to withdraw that advice and instruct that the police broaden their investigation.
The GHRA yesterday said that it was encouraged by the swift action taken by the DPP to broaden the investigation.
However, it said that several useful lessons may be drawn from the recent development in this case and the first is that even though medical examinations may be delayed by the police or medical personnel it is not an absolute barrier to sexual assault charges being brought as there is no statute of limitations on sexual assault cases.
The second lesson, the association said, is that the unwillingness by the investigating ranks and recommendations on lesser charges can be countered by tendering evidence gathered independently directly to the office of the DPP.
And third, it said, is that such evidence is likely to be taken more seriously if it is restricted to facts, and nouns (let the reader add the adjectives), shorn of political or other bias and signed by the submitting individual or organisation.
Moreover, the GHRA said in the light of three almost identical cases in the past week at Mahdia, Matthews Ridge and Essequibo, in which sexual assaults have reportedly been reduced to physical assaults by local police ranks, it is encouraging relatives, friends and solidarity organisations to seek ways to circumvent lack of cooperation from police or medical personnel.
In the case of the Mahdia allegation, Commander of ‘F’ Division Courtney Ramsey had told this newspaper that the police were not investigating any rape allegations since no such report was made. He had stated that the complainant had said she had sex with a boyfriend or some such person and was later assaulted by another man after a night of drinking.
However, the young woman had said that while she had told the police in Mahdia that she was aware of the men having sex with her she was unable to fight them off. It is believed that she was drugged and raped by three men, all affiliated with a Mahdia hotel where she worked. She had related that hours after the ordeal she fell unconscious and had to be rushed to the hospital where she had remained for a few hours.
