Chief Justice Ian Chang yesterday ordered that the magistrate presiding at the Cove and John Magistrate’s Court hold an inquest into the death of Ramesh Sawh, who was found hanging in the Enmore Police Station lockups in January.
The Chief Justice made absolute an order nisi, which had been filed on behalf of Sawh’s relatives last month by Attorney-at-law Anil Nandlall.
When the case was first heard, the Chief Justice Chang granted the order for the magistrate or coroner in the area where the death occurred to show cause why an inquest should not be held.
Stabroek News understands that on the day the order was granted, it was served on the clerk of the Cove and John Magistrate’s Court but no one appeared on behalf of the magistrate nor was an affidavit filed in answer on behalf of the magistrate.
As such, when the case was called in the High Court today, Justice Chang made the order absolute, compelling the magistrate at Cove and John, which is the court within the magisterial district where the unnatural occurred, to hold an inquest into the circumstances under which Sawh met his death.
Nandlall and Sawh’s parents were present at yesterday’s hearing.
On January 17, Sawh was found hanging by his jersey in a cell at the Enmore lock-ups. He was alone in the cell at the time. One policeman was transferred from that station shortly after, even though the police denied that they were responsible for the death.
Sawh was being held at the out post after a resident made an allegation that he had stolen a car battery. His relatives have since said that it was imaginable that he would kill himself over a simple larceny report. They said he had left his Logwood home, to seek employment at the Enmore Sugar Estate. They had also vowed that the young man had never displayed any suicidal tendency and called for a full investigation into the matter since they suspect that foul play was involved.
Police had said in a press release hours after Sawh’s death that they were investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The release said that Sawh was arrested following a larceny report and was taken to the outpost around 11.40 am. When officers checked on Sawh, who was alone in his cell, he was found hanging by his jersey, which had been stripped to make a rope and tied to the metal ventilation grill in the lock-ups.
In a subsequent release, the force denied the family’s claim that he died from a beating while in custody. A release said that an investigation found no evidence to substantiate the family’s claim and this was supported by the post-mortem examination, conducted by Dr Nehaul Singh. The cause of death was given as asphyxiation due to compression of the neck due to hanging.
Nandlall, who is watching over the family’s interest in the matter, had written to the Police Commissioner (ag) Henry Greene and Director of Public Prosecutions Shalimar Ali-Hack.
Chairman of the Police Complaints Authority, Cecil Kennard, had told Stabroek News that after reviewing the case several months ago he had recommended that an inquest into the death be held.
Has Ian Chang been nominated to substantive Chief Justice? I was under the impression that his position was in the acting capacity.
So many police incidents,people have been tortured and died in prison,the thing that baffles me is, no one is held responsible for these crimes.Thats why the Guyanese population have lost confidence in the armed forces.
I commend the Chief Justice for taking a determined step.
I do hope that he is not assailed for taking the action especially as it seems
that there were clear indications that some authorities were reluctant to have
an inquest held.
All such deaths should have an inquest held.
Hopefuly this would cause a change in attitude and that it would be a rouitine
matter that an inquest be held in any death of persons the authorities had
some control over or were engaged with. It is over bearing that scant attention
is paid to deaths of persons killed by the police and the other forces. Inquests
are intended to clarify the circumstances and determine any culpability.
Now are we going to experience the usual delay. like, no available space, no
available staff, persons on leave, persons have migrated? you know the regular
official expressions?.
We will see.
According to the family of the victim there is no way the he could have hanged himself in the cell because there wasn’t any structure exposed to attach his clothing. This was first reported on CNS and when Sharma visited the alleged victim of the theft there was no semblance of a car but the rotting shell of what was once a car. Basically only the frame was outside his yard and I pose this question to all of you; would you put a brand new battery in a car with no door, wheels, seats, motor or anything you’d required to set the vehicle in motion? Why then would the alleged victim claim the accused stole the battery from his motorcar when in fact it was inoperable? Folks if you can check CNS archives you’d be astounded.
I’m waiting to hear the outcome of this and hopefully they don’t insult the intelligence of those reading the papers. I’m from Enmore and when I used to live there the cops were actually credible.
it does not mean the police is guilty.My roomate had hanged himself.After i return from classes,opened the door,there he was,hanging from the ceiling.
sucide note on desk.
oh,boy,3 weeks of questioning by the police.
the young man had many emotional problem.
I am a guyanese,living in brazil.My dauger lived i georgeown,until last monthshe was in a shelter,and a man and his aunt took my grandchildren away from my daughter,and forced her to sign adoption papers giving over er children to them.This lady was married to my daughter´s husband before,i dont know te reason they want my granchildren,but i had to take my daughter my daughter out of Guyana and bring her to Brazil,before the killed her.Now I am trying to get my grandchildren over here,but these people treatened my life.I tried to get into contact with Minister Priya Manichand,where the adoption papers were signed under pressure,but to no avail,I tried to get on to thePresident,and the Chief Justice, the same thing. What´s happening in Guyana,no law anymore? I hope that someone can stop this adoption,before it´stoo late,other wise i will have to try the interpol.Hope that the law in Guyana wil be ore just in the future.Judith Campbell
im so sorry to hear this sad story …but i think u ned to go to guyana and sort it out …. as u cant do anything in brazil … as the children grandmother u may have some rights i suggest u act quickly … best of luck ..