The office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has recommended that a manslaughter charge be instituted against the Officer in Charge of the Suddie Police Station, who is accused of being responsible for the death of taxi driver Lallbachan Bachan but action has yet to be taken.
Stabroek News has confirmed that the DPP’s Chambers has also recommend charges against six police officers, including the female Officer in Charge of the station when Bachan died.
A source told this newspaper that despite the recommendations made and the case file being returned to the police earlier this year, no charges have been brought against the perpetrators.
Regional Police Commander Crystal Robinson yesterday again told this newspaper that the file never returned to her division. She had earlier told Stabroek News that she was not aware of any advice being given and noted the last update that was provided to her on the matter was that the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) was still investigating the matter.
Efforts were made yesterday to contact both the Police Commissioner Leslie James and Crime Chief Michael Kingston but calls to them went unanswered.
Just over a year ago, Bachan, 39, a father of four of Lot 21 Maria’s Lodge, Essequibo Coast, was discovered dead in a cell at the Suddie Police Station, days after he was arrested for driving under the influence.
The source who spoke with this newspaper revealed that the DPP’s office
recommended the manslaughter charge against the Officer in Charge of the station and that the rank be interdicted from duty pending the charge and disciplinary charges also being instituted against her.
Charges for neglect of duty and attempting to obstruct the course of justice were also recommended against the five other police ranks.
Attorney Anil Nandlall, who has been representing Bachan’s widow, had filed civil proceedings against the state to claim compensation for Bachan’s wife and children.
Last night, Nandlall told Stabroek News that the matter is scheduled for a case management conference on July 29 before Justice Gino Persaud.
Bachan was the lone occupant of the cell in which he was found dead. 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 could have been caused by a fall. However, the autopsy report seen by this newspaper listed Bachan’s cause of death as asphyxiation and a fractured larynx.
Bachan’s wife, Samantha Bachan, had showed this newspaper photographs, which indicated injuries and black and blue marks about his body, including on his forehead, lower back and legs. There were also marks on the right side of his neck that appeared as though he was strangled.
Bachan was arrested on June 28, 2019 on two arrest warrants for driving under the influence of alcohol. Prior to his arrest, Samantha had said, Bachan was placed on $20,000 bail. She related that her husband told her that an officer allegedly came to their house to meet him. However, at the time, Bachan wasn’t at home and went to meet him at the police station the following day.
Samantha had explained that 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 it 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 had said.
Bachan initially attended court on June 20th and on that occasion, the case was postponed to June 28th. However, Bachan did not turn up at court, resulting in the warrants being issued for him.
Samantha had said Bachan was arrested shortly after he had left home for work.
During this period, Bachan’s family was denied access to visit him. Throughout the weekend, his mother took meals for him and requested to see him but was not allowed to.
On June 30th, 2019, Samantha had said that 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 contacted by the police, who informed her of Bachan’s death.
