Rhonda Kortright-Fung, mother of deceased infant Raheem Fung, said that she is “totally fed-up” at the manner in which the Guyana Police Force is handling her son’s case as it has been a month since his death and “no word on the subject.”
The visibly-upset mother told Stabroek News on Saturday that the police have been giving her the “royal run-around” in relation to providing an update on her son’s case – the one-year-old died of multiple head injuries at the Georgetown Public Hospital.
Fung, of Circuitville, Yarrowkabra, Linden-Soesdyke Highway said that the police repeatedly told her that they will provide an update but never did.
“Every time I call the police it is a different story. One time he says call back today, and another time he says call back tomorrow. I am fed up; it has been a month now [and] I need justice for my child,” Fung said.
The grieving mother said that on Saturday, she was told that an update would be given to her and upon hearing this, she breathed a sigh of relief. However, her high expectations were dashed as, “I was calling his phone and it was going to voicemail. I am honestly upset and wants justice to take its course.”
The infant’s aunt, Marisa, told Stabroek News that the child died of pneumonia and serious trauma to the head, “but the police apparently is saying something different. This came from the post-mortem results but the police don’t want to admit that Raheem died from pneumonia and serious trauma to the head, so it appears as if they know something that we don’t.”
And according to the deceased infant’s mother, doctors were a bit hesitant to reveal the results of the post-mortem examination.
She added that a 28-year-old relative who was her son’s babysitter at the time of the incident, is likely to face the courts, as she must be answerable as to what transpired that day.
“She has to take responsibility for what happened to my son, he was in her care. I will not allow this to slide and I am hoping the police stop playing games with me and tell me the truth, I need justice for my son,” Fung said.
The police had reported that the babysitter, who resided at Yarrowkabra, Soesdyke-Linden Highway with her one-year-old daughter was detained as part of ongoing investigations into the incident. The injuries were reportedly sustained between July 1 and September 15 at Yarrowkabra.
The police report stated that the babysitter had contacted and informed the mother of the toddler that her son had fallen and hit his head. He was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital with a swollen forehead, and was treated and sent away in a healthy condition, after which he remained in the care and custody of the babysitter.
On September 15, around 19:30 hrs, the babysitter again contacted Fung, this time informing her that Raheem had suffered a seizure and lost consciousness.
The toddler was rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre by his mother, where he was examined and transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was placed in the ICU, on a life-support machine, suffering from multiple head injuries.
This publication back in September had messaged Communications Officer of the Guyana Police Force Mark Ramotar for a possible update on the matter which so far has not been provided. A follow-up was done on Saturday, and up to press time there was no response. (Antonio Dey)
