CONVICTED rapists Delon Chapman and Leon Ashby, two former police constables who were attached to the Turkeyen Police Station, will serve a 25-year jail sentence for the 2018 rape of a woman who visited the station to file a report.
On Thursday, Justice Jo-Ann Barlow sentenced the two men in the Sexual Offenses Court of the Demerara High Court. In September, a jury found the men guilty of engaging in sexual penetration of the woman without her consent on January 1, 2018.
During the sentencing hearing on Thursday, both men maintained that there are innocent and that a “fraud” charge was brought against them.
In deliberation on sentencing, Justice Barlow took into consideration the circumstances of the matter including the breach of the victim’s trust by men-in-uniform. The judge also considered the traumatic impact the incident had left on the victim and also the fact that ex-cops showed no remorse for their actions.
As part of the 25-year sentencing, the convicted men will also be required to attend counseling for sex offenders.
The state was represented by Prosecutor Nafeeza Baig while attorney-at-law Ravindra Mohabir represented the convicted duo.
According to reports, on the day in question, the victim went to the police station to file a report. While there, she made a request to use the washroom and was later taken there by Chapman.
While using the washroom she was attacked by Chapman and Ashby, who took her into a room with a mattress and raped her.
The matter was reported to the police and the two men were later arrested and charged.