— parents alleged abuse by police

FOUR boys between the ages of 11 to 15, from the community of Imbaimadai, reportedly broke into the business place of prominent businessman, Compton Mendonca and allegedly carted off 12 cases of beers from the shop.

According to Village Toshao, Delphi Hunter, the incident reportedly occurred on Wednesday at about 02:00hrs when the boys helped themselves to several bottles of Heineken, Banks and GT beers.
Mendonca said the recent incident marked the fourth occasion his business has been robbed.

The matter was reported to ranks at the Imbaimadai Police Station and the four boys in question were held, but after the cops could not get any information from them they decided to adopt another method to extract information.

The ranks reportedly brought out a leather belt and dealt the teens several lashes causing them to quickly confess to the crime, but they were also quick to point out that they only took a small quantity of beers which they consumed.

The claim that they took 12 cases of beers is false, the teens reportedly said.

The teenagers were later released but were instructed to report to the police station at 09:00hrs every morning, since.

Toshao Hunter told Guyana Chronicle that the teens are said to be out of control and despite efforts to rehabilitate them, they continue to imbibe heavily.

He added that they are in need professional help to reform, since encouragement to go to church and efforts to get them involved in recreational and educational activities have proved futile.

The Toshao also said that the parents of the teens are not pleased with the beating they received at the hands of the police, and are of the opinion that they were also sexually abused while in police custody.

Commander of ‘F’ Division Rabindradat Budhram told this publication that he understands that the juveniles broke and entered a shop in the village and were questioned by the police and later released into the custody of their parents.

The Senior Superintendent said he is not aware of any sexual assault perpetrated by the police, but a team of senior ranks have been deployed to the location to investigate the matter.

If the ranks are found culpable, Senior Superintendent Budhram said they will be dealt with appropriately.