Attorney Anil Nandlall, who is representing the interests of the widow of the taxi driver found dead by police in the Suddie lockups last week, has written to the heads of the Police Complaints Authority, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Police Commissioner, requesting an inquest into his death.
The letters were sent to the offices yesterday.
Lallbachan Bachan, 39, of Lot 21 Maria’s Lodge, Essequibo Coast, died while in police custody on June 30.
The police had said that Bachan, a father of four, was discovered dead in a cell around 6.10 am on Monday, July 1, days after he was arrested for driving under the influence. At the time, the police said, Bachan was the lone occupant of the cell.
He was taken to the Suddie Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. His body bore no visible marks of violence, according to the police.
The police later said that an autopsy performed on Bachan’s remains showed that he died as a result of a fractured larynx, which can be caused by a fall, however, the autopsy report seen by this newspaper listed Bachan’s cause of death as asphyxiation and a fractured larynx.
In Nandlall’s letter, he requested that a “comprehensive and professional investigation be done.
Nandlall informed the agencies that his client is in possession of pictures which were taken at the funeral parlour showing the deceased had multiple bodily injuries.
He also stated that he has received information from a reliable source that on the evening of June 30, when Bachan was taken into custody, the ranks of the Suddie Police Station were consuming alcohol.
On this note, he asked that an investigation be launched to determine whether his information “bears any causal nexus to the death of the deceased…”
On Friday, Bachan’s widow, Samantha Bachan, through her lawyer announced that they will be suing the state for compensation.
During the press conference held at his South Road office, Nandlall had stated that Bachan was a victim of police brutality, which he deemed another case which highlights the violence meted out to persons in police custody.
“Once a person is taken into police custody, then the Guyana Police Force bears the responsibility and in law, a duty of care to ensure the safety of those persons and here it is that persons are being arrested, taken into custody and they suffer violent death while in custody,” said Nandlall. These allegations, he added, have appeared with repeated frequency in recent times.
The deceased’s wife, during her interactions with the press, said that her family is seeking answers from those in charge since she believes her husband’s death was not a natural one.
The wife had explained that when she saw her husband’s body at the funeral home, there were marks of violence on his head, face, arms and feet, although the police are claiming there were none at the time of the discovery of the body.
Prior to his arrest, Samantha said, Bachan was placed on $20,000 bail.
She related that her husband told her that an officer came to their house to meet him. However, at the time, Bachan was not at home and went to meet him at the police station the following day.
Samantha said her husband told her that the officer asked him for $100,000 to settle the matter but he explained he couldn’t afford such a large amount and offered him the bail money instead.
The officer reportedly told Bachan that was not sufficient.
“He said that the officer wanted a $100,000 from him. He said when he went there (the police station) the police officer took him in a room and he bought some pholourie and drink for him and then is when he had the talk saying that he want the $100,000 to settle the matter and he said he doesn’t have so much, you can take the bail money if you want. He said no, that is not enough,” Samantha said.
Bachan initially attended court on June 20 for the matter, and on this occasion, the case was postponed to June 28.
However, Bachan did not turn up at court, resulting in the warrants being issued for him. The family stated that while Bachan was in lockups they were prevented by the police from visiting him.
Throughout the weekend he was in the lockups, his mother took meals for him and requested to see him but was not allowed to.
On Sunday, Samantha said, she accompanied her mother-in-law to the police station and asked to see Bachan.
They were granted about five minutes with him and during this time Bachan appeared normal and bore no injuries about his body. However, on the said afternoon, Samantha noted that when Bachan’s mother returned with dinner, she was not allowed to see him.
The following day, she said, as her mother-in-law was about to leave home for the police station, she was met by the police, who informed her of Bachan’s death.
Stabroek News understands that an investigation has been launched into the matter by the Police Complaints Authority.
