A STATEMENT issued yesterday by the Guyana Defence Force has denied a Kaieteur News story that it attempted to cover up a report of rape made by a female rank against her superior officer. According to a press release issued by Acting Chief of Staff Colonel Mark Phillips, “The Guyana Defence Force wishes to refute the allegation of an attempt to cover up a report of rape made by a female rank against her superior officer, in the Kaieteur News of Tuesday December 11, 2012.
“The Guyana Defence Force is aware that the female rank made a formal report of the alleged rape to the Brickdam Police Station, a requirement for the criminal investigation of such an allegation against the superior officer”.
The release continued, “The Guyana Defence Force states that it was only after an internal investigation of improper conduct involving an officer and the female rank interviewed for the Kaieteur News article, and the subsequent counselling by a senior welfare officer that the female rank made a formal report to the Guyana Police Force.
“Further, at all times the Guyana Defence Force insisted that the female rank pursue the matter with the Guyana Police Force to the extent that the Chief of Staff wrote the Commissioner of Police on this matter and the necessary police systems were put in place for her to use.
“The internal investigation also led to administrative action, a disciplinary panel interview chaired by the Chief of Staff, and the sanctioning of the named officer for contravening Force regulations pertaining to improper officer/other rank relationship.”
“Finally, the Guyana Defence Force is satisfied that the allegation of rape made by the female rank was properly reported to the Guyana Police Force, and a wish to reiterate that, contrary to the Kaieteur News article, at no time was there any attempt to cover up this incident.”