– administrative decision shortly, police commissioner says

COMMISSIONER of Police, Leslie James, said the Administration of the Guyana Police Force will make a decision shortly on the allegation that a senior member of the force sexually assaulted a female journalist. He said in the interim, the senior officer has been relieved of his duties.

“He (the accused) was stood down from his actual duties and an administrative decision would be made shortly,” the police commissioner told reporters, when approached on the matter on the margins of the Guyana Defence Force’s Annual Officer’s Conference at State House on Thursday. The Guyana Chronicle has been informed that the senior officer is attached to the force’s headquarters, Eve Leary, Georgetown.

The alleged sexual assault reportedly happened on November 25, 2019, but was not reported to the Guyana Police Force until this month. Reports indicate that the incident reportedly took place after the journalist approached the officer seeking information on an operation he oversaw.

Since the filing of the report, the police have obtained a statement from the victim, and a medical examination has been conducted. The result is pending, the police commissioner said.

The commissioner of police also confirmed reports that a number of senior officers were aware of the incident before an official report was lodged. “We are not officious, we respond base on reports. Indeed the alleged victim spoke to a number of officers prior to her making an actual report. She apparently was undecided, that much I would say at this point,” James told reporters.

He maintained that the matter is under active investigation by the Guyana Police Force.