Cops seek another statement from Henry Greene accuser

The woman, a 34-year-old mother of two, has since been told to make herself available today to give another statement to police.

Stabroek News was unable to contact any senior police official yesterday but a source said the DPP returned the file to the police some time during yesterday.

Nigel Hughes, the attorney representing the complainant who first made the allegation early December last, told this newspaper that around mid-afternoon yesterday, an investigator told him that the DPP had sent back the file for a further interview with the woman. He noted that this would be the fifth time his client would be speaking to the police on the matter. Hughes explained that on the first occasion last December, the woman gave a detailed statement at the Brickdam Police Station, during an interview that from 3 pm to 11 pm. On the following day, she was with the police for about an hour.

When the Jamaican investigators came here, the attorney said, she was questioned for five hours one day and for several more hours the following day. “This is unacceptable,” Hughes said before questioning how long this police tactic will go on for.

Hughes also questioned how the woman could have given so many detailed statements and the police are still requesting another one. He said he has his doubts about the object of the investigation, especially since his client has to be put in this situation even though the Sexual Offences Act seeks to ensure that victims do not have to relive their ordeal.

The file was returned to the police more than a week after it was sent to the DPP chambers for advice, following investigations by a team of Jamaicans who travelled to Guyana to assist after President Donald Ramotar instructed the Ministry of Home Affairs to get external assistance. The team left last week after interviewing Greene and the complainant.

The woman is alleging that the rape occurred on the night of November 22, at a city hotel, after she had sought Greene’s assistance in solving a police matter.

The woman, in the presence of Hughes, previously told reporters that after the incident Greene warned her against telling anyone or visiting a medical institution or doctor in connection with the matter.

She said he had called her for several days from a mobile number, which she provided as 699-0870. She further stated that Greene wrote the number at the back of his card and told her that only government officials had knowledge of that contact number.

The woman said that several days after the incident, another senior police officer called her phone and requested that she meet a senior government functionary at the Office of the President to discuss the issue but she declined. She said the police officer told her that she should visit the government functionary alone, “with no family or anybody.”