CHAIRMAN of the Police Complaints Authority (PCA), Justice Cecil Kennard, yesterday confirmed that while the file pertaining to the investigation into the burning of 19-year-old Junior Torrington’s hands is at his office, he is unable to do any work on it.

Justice Kennard told this publication that he did read the report in relation to the matter, but he has done no perusal of the statements which were contained in the report, and he advised that he would do so when the medical report for the young man has been added to file.

He said that, based on his knowledge, one out of the many police officers who are being investigated for complicity in the incident is likely to be charged criminally, while several others from the Sparendaam Police Station are likely to be disciplined departmentally.

The Junior Torrington investigation file was sent to the PCA Chairman’s office on Monday afternoon; but the Guyana Chronicle’s efforts yesterday to confirm from the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation if a medical report had been issued or requested for the injured young man were futile.

This publication was informed that, in cases like this, the police would make a written request of the Georgetown Public Hospital for a medical report to be prepared and submitted for record keeping, and/or to be used or submitted as evidence in probes.

Junior Torrington has been admitted to the Burn Cares Unit of the Guyana Public Hospital Corporation for the injuries he sustained on his hands after a police detective constable poured methylated spirits on them and set them alight.

Although Justice Kennard would not confirm the name of the police rank who could face criminal charges, this newspaper was informed that it is likely to be the detective constable.

Following the incident, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Mr. Wright has since been transferred to the animal section of the GPF for trying to cover up the burning of the teenager’s hands by a rank of the Sparendaam Police Station.

19-year-old Junior Torrington had the burns inflicted on his two hands by a detective constable at the Sparendaam Police Station while the teen was being questioned in relation to a criminal mater.

The teen related that the constable poured methylated spirits on his hands and set them alight; and after committing the act, offered the teen’s father a hundred thousand dollars as settlement for the torture.

The attorney for the young man has however told media operatives that when the money was handed over to the teen’s father, which he signed for, the father was under the impression that the money was being offered to assist in the transportation cost for his tortured son.

Within the past two weeks, the Guyana Police Force has hauled four of its own ranks before the courts to answer criminal charges, all of which have to do with the inhumane mistreatment of members of the public while the police officers were on the job.
Written By Leroy Smith