Kallicharran Sawak, the La Bonne Intention (LBI) man who succumbed on Monday to injuries he sustained while in police custody last week, died as a result of multiple injuries due to blunt trauma about the body, an autopsy yesterday showed.
Police spokesman Jairam Ramlakhan confirmed the findings of the autopsy which was conducted yesterday by Government Pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH).
Sawak, 39, called ‘Danny,’ of Lot 3 LBI, East Coast Demerara, was taken into police custody on January 17th after he was misbehaving while he was drunk.
He was being held at the Sparendaam Police Station until his court hearing. It was while waiting for his case to be called that his family learnt that he was hospitalised in a critical condition last week Tuesday.
He succumbed at around 7:45 pm on Monday at the GPH. The father of one remained unconscious up to the time of his death.
‘C’ Division Commander Calvin Brutus had told Stabroek News that the investigation launched by him was handed over to the Office of Professional Responsibility.
Commissioner of Police Leslie James, when asked for an update on the matter yesterday, told reporters that an impartial investigation is ongoing into Sawak’s death and at the conclusion, necessary actions will be taken.
“Yes, I was informed that the person (Sawak) sustained multiple injuries. Of course, even before we obtain that information about his death, an impartial investigation was done. The Office of Professional Responsibility is engaged in that investigation,” James said.
He added the police have since obtained statements from prisoners who were in custody at the time.
While he could not definitely state if any ranks were reassigned as part of the probe, James explained that immediate actions are usually taken in matters of such nature. “…Expectedly there would have been some reassignment, initial reassignment,” James observed.
He said information revealed that Sawak was kept in custody for more than the stipulated time for an offence that did not even required him being in the lock-ups. “I would be quite frank. My information is indeed he was kept, I think just over the 72 hours period and that is a breach and of course wherever the chips fall, we will pursue and whoever is responsible will be faced with sanction,” the top cop assured.
At the station last week, Sawak’s sister, Shivani had been told that he was hospitalised after he sustained injuries that were self-inflicted. “We don’t know what happen, but we need answers… nobody can give account for what happened while he was at the station,” the distraught sister had lamented.
“We just wanted some peace. Look how a small thing turn so big now. We never expected this,” she added.
From visits to the hospital, she had said, they learnt that Sawak was bleeding from his eyes and ears and there was swelling in his brain.
