-says cops had written statement and asked him to sign
Two weeks after he was admitted to the Georgetown Hospital, the teen whose genitals were set alight by policemen during an interrogation was yesterday discharged into the custody of his parents.
Limping, the boy emerged into the hospital compound just after noon, accompanied by his mother Shirley Thomas and stepfather, Doodnauth Jaikarran. As they stood speaking to the media, onlookers flocked around when they realised that it was the tortured teen. They were surprised that he was released from the institution given the severity of his injuries. Notably absent was the police rank who had been guarding the lad since his arrival at the hospital, where he was transferred days after he was burnt and beaten while in custody. The teen was among several persons from the Canal Number Two area who were arrested for questioning into the murder of retired Region Three vice-chairman Ramenaught Bisram. Two other suspects who were held have also alleged that they were beaten by the police.
Thomas told Stabroek News that on Thursday she went to the Burn Care Unit, where her son was being treated, and a nurse indicated that the boy would be discharged the following day. She said she was happy to hear the news but also concerned about how the teen would be getting the treatment he needs to ensure his wounds heal. According to Thomas, she was told by the nurse that he has to return to the hospital on November 26 for a check-up.
Up to the time he was discharged, a policeman was still posted at the unit where the teen was being treated. Thomas said when she visited the hospital yesterday a female officer approached her and explained that she was handing the boy over to her. She added that no one from the police force had contacted her afterward about the boy. “He is not fully recovered and now that he is home, I got to find the ointment to put on he burns,” the woman said, adding “Sometime when he lie down, he does feel like he flesh stretching.” She appealed for assistance to get the medical supplies for her son.
‘No respect
for people’
Yesterday, the teen told reporters that during his incarceration policemen wrote a statement and asked him to sign. However, he explained that he cannot read or write and was unaware of what the statement said.
According to him, the ranks did not read the statement to him before he was told to sign it.
The teen, with a sad expression on his face, stated that he was clueless as to why the ranks targeted him for the murder of Bisram. He explained that he knew the man and would occasionally visit his home to gaff with him. However, he maintained that he was at home the night the incident occurred and when the discovery was made. “They (the ranks) have no respect for people. They really wanted to hurt me because I keep tellin’ dem that I ain’t know nothing and I ain’t do nothing and they still continue beating me. And then after they beat me they do this,” he said.
The case has sparked countrywide outrage and condemnation and there have been calls for an independent inquiry as well as for immediate action to be taken against the ranks who have been implicated.
Police Commissioner Henry Greene had said days after the incident was exposed that the culprits had not yet been identified by the teen and the investigators are working on that aspect of the case before bringing charges. Two policemen, Sergeant Narine Lall and Constable Mohanram Dolai have been charged with wounding Deonarine Rafick and Nouravie Wilfred, two men who were held along with the boy. There were no charges in relation to the injuries the teen had sustained. The policemen were released on bail after an application to the High Court.
From all accounts, the teen was tortured by ranks at the Leonora Police Station so that he could confess to the murder. The lad had told his mother that while in custody at that station three ranks beat him while a fourth interrogated him. A black bag was placed over his head before he was burnt.
The trio was arrested following Bisram’s murder. Rafick was later charged with the murder and during his court appearance had alleged torture and displayed signs of a beating. He also had a gaping wound to his head which required stitches. Wilfred was released without charge after a week in custody.
When he was taken to court, Rafick had told relatives that the teen was “scorched” and they informed the boy’s parents. They investigated but police refused to disclose the lad’s whereabouts. However, they persisted and later found that he was being held at the Leonora police station, the Headquarters of ‘D’ Division. Ranks at Leonora had doused his pelvic area with a flammable liquid and set it afire. It was several days later, following media reports, that the boy was taken to the hospital. The Kaieteur News had published a graphic photo of the burns. It is not clear who had taken the photo and under what circumstances but it was taken in the police station.
