By Rabindra Rooplall

CITIZENS are being advised by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to desist from vigilante justice. Acting commander of ‘A’ division Marlon Chapman is calling on citizens to not take the law into their own hands but instead support the work of the GPF.Chapman, in an interview with the Guyana Chronicle said citizens can work in concert with the Force to protect their communities from criminal elements. “I want this to be made very clear that I have a zero tolerance for vigilante killings or beatings, we have courts in this country and if an infraction is committed against the law the police will investigate and the court will decide who is guilty or not guilty,” he warned.

The past few days have seen an upsurge in vigilant justice across the country and the Commander noted that every instance of vigilante justice is being investigated.

He pointed to the incidents which took place at Pearl Village, East Bank Demerara (EBD) and North Ruimveldt. Chapman said when those guilty of the acts are found they will be dealt with appropriately. In the case of the North Ruimveldt an attempted robbery was committed on 37 year-old barber Roger Lovell who was beaten by a bandit with a gun.

An alarm was raised and persons responded and apprehended the robbers who were then severely beaten. Police recovered a .32 pistol and live rounds at the scene. One of the men was taken to the hospital treated and sent away while the other remains a patient.

In the case of Sarah Johanna, EBD, the Commander without revealing much information said it is alleged that two men exited a motorcar and entered a business armed with handguns. The duo attempted to rob the proprietor but an alarm was raised.

“An alarm was raised again and public spirited citizens responded and the men were able to escape into the bushes while the car drove away. Later that night information received indicated that the suspects were later seen on the Pearl Public Road and by the time police responded, residents pounced upon them and they were beaten, someone in the crowd discharged a round which hit a suspect who was later taken to Diamond Hospital where he was pronounced dead,” Commander Chapman said.

He explained that a postmortem examination done on the deceased indicated that the man died of shock and hemorrhage due to the gunshot injury.

The dead man was identified as 21- year-old Seon Clarke, aka Cash Money, of Campbellville and his unidentified accomplice lives in North East La Penitence.

When asked if Seon Clarke had any previous brushes with the law, the commander noted that he was recently released from prison for a series of armed robberies.

Notwithstanding the occurrences of the past, the acting Divisional Commander made it clear that it is not the public’s responsibility to beat an alleged criminal. He said when an alleged criminal is apprehended, that person should be taken to the nearest police station.

Meanwhile, Commander Chapman warned criminals against attacking innocent persons. “Crime does not pay, there are organizations that you can go to like the central recruitment agency at the Labour Ministry to find a job; if you need help you can visit the Salvation Army, Food for the Poor or other organisations. Think about it, when you commit a crime it’s only you who stand to really lose because the law catches up with you,” he stressed.

On Sunday, President David Granger issued a strong warning against the practice of vigilante justice. The president made it clear that such behavior would not be tolerated by his administration.

“We can’t tolerate that. We accept that citizens have a right to protect their properties and so on, but we expect people to be organised in Community Policing Groups. But we can’t tolerate vigilantism, especially when it results in the injury or death of anybody; it can get out of hand,” President Granger stated.