MINISTER of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee yesterday said that the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) will commence an investigation into the allegations that accused cop killer, Shaka Chase was tortured while in police custody.

Minister Rohee was at the time speaking to reporters at the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) Drill Square, Eve Leary, after the ceremony for the handing-over of vehicles to the Guyana Police Force (GPF).
He pointed out to reporters that since the allegations of torture by the police were raised, they have responded and denied it.
Twenty-six-year-old Chase of 169 East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, appeared Monday before Chief Magistrate, Priya Sewnarine-Beharry charged with the murder of Police Corporal, Romain Cleto and he was remanded to prison until Tomorrow.
Rohee said, “I think they have not seen any medical certificates, it was an allegation made and should be investigated, as far as I am concerned.”
The minister said that OPR has to address it once an allegation has been made but he is not sure if any probe has commenced.
The Guyana Police Force, in a press statement on Monday, said it strongly deny that Shaka Chase, who has been charged with the murder of the policeman, was assaulted or tortured in any way while in police custody into admitting that he had committed the crime as is being alleged by relatives.
The GPF was responding to an article published in the Kaieteur News of May 20, 2013, under the caption ‘Police refuse alibi statements for accused cop killer’ which deals with investigations into the death of Police Corporal 20196, Romain Cleto.
Police said the incident in which Corporal Cleto was shot and killed occurred at about 18:45 hrs on April 27, 2013, in the vicinity of Regent Street and Avenue of the Republic, Georgetown.
According to the police, at 19:10 hrs on the same day, Shaka Chase went to the East Ruimveldt Police Outpost and told the police that he had received information that the police wanted him for the murder of the policeman.
At that time police investigators were still processing the scene and interviewing persons and had no information as to any suspect. However, Chase was interviewed and his hands were swabbed and he was released on bail.
On May 15, 2013, the police said it got a statement from an eyewitness who identified Shaka Chase as one of the persons in the motorcar immediately before the shooting. The eyewitness also stated that Shaka Chase was known to the eyewitness for several years.
The laboratory report subsequently indicated that the swab from Shaka Chase’s hands was positive for gunpowder residue, police added.
The police noted that Chase was rearrested at 18:27 hrs on May 16, 2013. He was interviewed by police investigators who asked him to explain the gunpowder residue on his hands and also told him that an eyewitness had given a statement that he (Chase) was in the vehicle from which shots had been fired that killed Corporal Cleto.
The police further stated that at 19:25 hrs on May 16, 2013, less than one hour after he was rearrested, Shaka Chase gave a confession statement in which he named three associates, one of whom had been arrested previously and swabs taken from his hands had also tested positive for gunpowder residue.
Information provided in the Chase confession statement led to the seizure by the police of the motor vehicle used by them and a statement was taken from the owner of the vehicle who indicated that she gave Shaka Chase the vehicle for similar reasons as that provided in his confession statement, police pointed out.
The police added that on May 18, 2013, Attorney-at-Law, Gordon Gilhuys indicated to a police officer that Shaka Chase had been assaulted by the police, who immediately took Chase to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre where he was seen and examined by a medical doctor who issued a medical certificate that there was no sign of injuries.
Police stated further that at 17:30 hrs on May 19, 2013, Attorney-at-Law, Nigel Hughes went to Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters, Eve Leary, in connection with the matter and was told to return on May 20, 2013, since there was no CID investigator at the CID Headquarters at the time.