Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr Roger Luncheon said Cabinet approves of the promotion by the Police Service Commission (PSC) of a police officer found liable in the torturing of a boy in 2009 by lighting his genitals on fire.
Luncheon yesterday said, “I think there was a satisfaction with the commission’s contention that the law had taken its course… The disciplinary actions had been implemented and there was no need to deny… these policemen promotion.”
He said Cabinet’s approval was based on the PSC’s satisfaction that the matter was concluded. Luncheon told the media at his weekly post-Cabinet briefing held at the Office of the President that “… The two policemen were no longer subjected or subject to disciplinary or legal challenges for the torture charges that were laid against them. It is understood that the commission acted from that perspective in going ahead.”
Luncheon stated that prior to the torture, Narine Lall, the officer found liable of the torture in 2009 had a “superb” record. He echoed the sentiments of the PSC which had stated that Lall had an “unblemished record” prior to the torture.
The fact that Lall was indeed found liable for torture has observers baffled at the PSC’s decision regardless of Lall’s prior record.
“We should not hold something against someone because they would have committed something wrong…even though you have served the time for it and I think the public should understand that. From our record, he has been an outstanding policeman for over two decades and we have taken that into consideration,” Chairman of the PSC Omesh Satyanand had told reporters on Friday.
It was stated that Lall was promoted by the PSC while the promotion of the other policeman found liable for torture, Mohanram Dolai, fell within the ambit of Acting Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud. Persaud has said nothing so far on the issue.
The 2009 torture case drew international condemnation and an investigation by the police’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) had found that the two policemen injured and tortured the teen boy by pouring methylated spirits on his genital area and setting it alight. The incident had occurred at the Leonora Police Station. The Ministry of Home Affairs had publicly acknowledged that the teen had been tortured and ex-pressed regret.
In November 2009, Lall and Narine had appeared in court charged with burning the genitals of the 15-year-old boy with intent to maim, disfigure, disable or cause him grievous bodily harm. They were also charged with unlawfully and maliciously wounding Nouravie Wilfred. The duo along with Corporal Oswald Foo were also charged with unlawfully and maliciously wounding Deonarine Rafick, with intent to maim, disfigure, disable or cause him grievous bodily harm.
The criminal case against them was subsequently dismissed in the Magistrate’s Court because the boy and other witnesses failed to turn up.
The offences were committed shortly after the teen, Wilfred and Rafick were arrested by police in connection with the murder of former Region Three vice-chairman Ramenauth Bisram. The teen was stripped and beaten before his genitals were burnt.
In 2011, following the filing of a civil action, Justice Roxane George found the ranks liable and after describing the case as constituting torture, awarded the teenager $6.5 million which the state eventually paid.
The PSC also said it had been at least two years since the court matter concluded and as such Lall was eligible for promotion.
