More than a year after taxi driver Lallbachan Bachan was discovered dead in the Suddie Police Station, a policewoman was yesterday charged with unlawfully killing him.
Special Lance Corporal Vanessa Milo, who is stationed at the Aurora Police Station, was not required to plead to a charge of manslaughter when she appeared before Magistrate Esther Sam at the Suddie Magistrate’s Court.
She was subsequently granted her release on $400,000 bail pending the outcome of preliminary inquiry into the charge.
Two others ranks, Detective Corporal Dwayne Braithwaite, of the Anna Regina Police Station, and Constable Denzil Glasgow, of the Suddie Police Station, were charged separately with attempting to obstruct the course of justice.
They, too, were not required to plead. They were both granted bail in the sum of $50,000 each.
The matters were adjourned until August 7th for reports.
The Director of Public Prosecutions had recommended the charges against Milo, who had been the Officer in Charge at the station, and others since earlier this year but there was a delay in acting upon the advice.
The police had said that 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. He died sometime between June 31, 2019 and July 1, 2019.
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, Lallbachan 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 get rid of the matters but he explain-ed 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 for the matter, 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.
Attorney-at-law, Anil Nandlall who is representing the widow had said during a press conference that he will be filing civil proceedings against the state to claim compensation for Bachan’s wife and children.
