The stepfather of the tortured teen yesterday changed his mind about an identification parade, which was to be held at the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) and the police have blamed this on the intervention of Mark Benschop.
The Guyana Police Force in a press release expressed concern that efforts are “apparently being made to stymie the expeditious conclusion of the investigations into this matter.”
According to the release issued yesterday afternoon, as investigations continued into the allegations made by relatives of the teen who was in custody at the Leonora Police Station, the parents of the teenager were contacted.
The necessary arrangements were put in place in the usual manner for an identification parade using the one-way mirror slated for 10.30 am at the CID Headquarters, Eve Leary, in an effort for the teen to identify the suspects.
The release added that the police’s OPR arranged transportation for the victim and his stepfather, Doodnauth Jaikarran, to travel to the OPR at Eve Leary and to wait in the area until they were ready.
“Subsequently, just as they were about to leave for CID Headquarters, Mark Benschop arrived at
Police Headquarters, Eve Leary, and requested to see Assistant Commissioner H. Mackhanlall of the OPR Department,“ it added stating that Benschop enquired about the status of the teen and was told that he was there for an ID parade.
Benschop then responded that he was “representing the victim” in the absence of his lawyer who was overseas and that the boy should not attend the ID parade in the absence of his lawyer. He was then told by Mackhanlall that there would be no further discussions with him and he left the building.
Further, the release said, Benschop spoke briefly to the victim’s stepfather before leaving the compound.
Jaikarran then told Mackhanlall that his stepson would not attend the ID parade without his lawyer Khemraj Ramjattan being present.
“He refused for his stepson to go on the identification parade as arranged for today and requested that it be held upon the availability of his lawyer Mr Khemraj Ramjattan at some unknown date,“ the release added.
Benschop made a reasonable request that the boy’s legal representative be present at the ID parade and it was met with hostility by the PPP police.
The child and his parents were then rudely chased out of the police compund.
Surprised??
what d hell is that d real mark Benschop
The validity of this so-called police investigation was always in doubt. This latest behavior by the police is further confirmation of the low expectation that anything would come out of this “Guyana police” investigation.
I aint know what went on there but I think that if it is Benshop he was right to do such. I think it was a wise move. The Guyana Police Force is not to be trusted. When will the Guyanese people learn.
Benshop was right to guide the boy and his parent.
Why on earth would the police want to engage this teenage victim (of police torture) in an ID parade, while his lawyer is out of the jurisdiction? Is it that they want to influence the outcome?
GUYANA, a cow-boy “TEXAS” country, who will judge and who will try who????
I know you will not publish this Mr. Annand Persaud
hey, i applaud mr Benchop for his advise to the parents of the victim. The Police must have other intentions for wanting the victim there without his lawyer. They think they can fool people all the time. Thanks to the brave Benchop for his advise to these trusting people – too bad thier trust will be violated by the Police.
Ladies and Gent’s, Boys and Girls, Hats off to Mr Mark Benschop please.
This person is a habitual troublemaker and should be given no leverage.I predict he will cause a lot of social unrest and will only cease to do so after a lenghty jail term.
this is what you read or what you know?
Incognegro.Neither.Think again.It is what sensible minds can see coming.