The two policemen charged with wounding two prisoners during a murder probe made their second appearance in court yesterday and the case was deferred to January.

Narine Lall

Sergeant Narine Lall and Constable Mohanram Dolai appeared before Magistrate Nyasha Williams-Hatmin at the Vreed-en-Hoop Magi-strate’s court yesterday. Police Prosecutor Sherwin Matthews told the court that the file is with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Magistrate set a new date of January 5 to give the prosecution enough time to get back the file.

On that date, it will be decided whether the Administration of Justice Act will be applied or a Preliminary Inquiry will commence.

The Magistrate asked Matthews if he knew whether a special prosecutor would be appointed but he said he had no knowledge of this. The men – who were granted bail in the High Court, stood silently as the matter was discussed. Attorney-at-law Sonia Parag stood in for their lawyer, Hukumchand.

Immediately after the new date was set, the men left the courtroom.  The duo had also been implicated in the torture of a teen boy while he was in their custody.

According to the charges brought against the two policemen, between October 20 and 29 at the Leonora Police Station, West Coast Demerara, they unlawfully and maliciously wounded Nouravie Wilfred. It is also alleged that on October 28, at the same police station, they unlawfully and maliciously wounded Deonarine Rafick, with intent to maim, disfigure, disable or cause him grievous bodily harm.

Mohanram Dolai

Wilfred, Rafick and the teen had been arrested following the murder of retired Region Three vice-chairman Ramenauth Bisram. A wounded and battered Rafick has since been charged with the murder and remanded to prison, while Wilfred was released after having been in custody for a week. The teen had been severely burnt in his genital area and it was only after the case was reported in the media that he was taken to the hospital. No charges were filed in relation to the boy since he had not yet identified the accused.

When the duo first appeared in court, they were not required to plead to the indictable charges laid jointly against them and were remanded to prison by acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson.

Later, Hukumchand secured bail at the High Court in the sum of $150,000, and $175,000 for Lall and Dolai respectively.