…as two ranks arrested for allegedly beating suspect

TWO police constables stationed at the Tactical Services Unit and Wales Police Station respectively are under investigation by the Guyana Police Force for allegedly beating and burning a 17-year-old boy about his body while he was in handcuffs.

The policemen, who are said to be brothers, reportedly carried out the act on Monday morning after they accused the teenager of breaking into their home and carting off a mobile phone and game. The teenager has been identified as Askajy Budhiram of Lot 3928 Westminister, La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara. He was reportedly taken from a game shop, bundled into a car trunk and taken to the home of the policemen where they beat him.

The issue was brought to light by Commissioner of Police, Leslie James, who called a press conference on Tuesday to update the media of the developments and stated that the ranks are under close arrest at two separate locations. He also stressed that they are the sons of a senior police officer. “It was reported that two members of the Guyana Police Force allegedly caused some injuries to a seventeen-year-old male yesterday. The allegation is that sometime between the hours of 11:30 he was picked up by these two ranks who allegedly were with other persons, and taken to a dwelling in the La Parfaite Harmonie area, I think the dwelling is their residence,” James told the media.

He continued: “The background to that is that the dwelling was broken and entered into sometime prior and it was felt that the young man was a suspect. The allegation is that the ranks proceeded to inflict injuries on him, that is, he was beaten and he was also burnt about his body by some liquid. I suspect it might have been water, hot water. So as a responsible force I thought it best for us to meet this way so that I can report directly and let you know that is a matter that we are currently investigating. I can say to you that the two ranks are in custody and this matter is being investigated, the investigation is being led by very senior police officers,” James said.

In a visit to the community on Tuesday, the Guyana Chronicle went to the home of the young man but he was already out in the company of his mother and the police revisiting the locations where he was taken from and the home where he was detained and beaten. A visit to the home where the policemen live saw detectives present.

They were in the home with the young man while his mother sat in a police vehicle outside. Sabrina Lutch, the mother of the teenager, spoke with this publication. “Yesterday (Monday) I got a call about two o clock from my big son and said that eight men kidnap, put meh son in a truck and dem an know where part dem carry he.” The woman said that her son was picked up from game shop in the community which is located some corners away. She said that her son has denied the allegation of breaking into the home of the policemen.

Guyana Chronicle learnt that the men placed the child on a bed and placed handcuffs on his hands. It is also reported that they were armed with batons used hot water from a kettle to burn him about the body including the face. His mother related on Tuesday that when she saw her son Monday afternoon, he still had the handcuffs on him and the policemen, who were very professional in dealing with them when they arrived at the police station, used a key to release the cuffs. The police ranks investigating the matter are slated to conduct an identification parade today. James also confirmed that the alleged break and enter took place on December 12, 2019.

Commissioner James urged his men to desist from such actions and to perform their duties professionally. He stressed that police receive training upon entering the force and this continues even after deployment to various divisions. “When policemen are engaged in certain acts, in most of the cases it might be a decision they would have made, not due to lack of training. I wish to make that very clear.

I want to remind ranks in the force to desist from such acts because when it comes to our attention, we will investigate and if it has to result in charges, that will be done,” the commissioner stated. Minister of Public Security, Hon. Khemraj Ramjattan, had also vowed earlier in the year that every complaint against police officers would be investigated.