File on rape allegation against GDF Major for DPP – police

The police today said that the file on a complaint of rape by a woman against a GDF Major is to be sent to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions today.

In a statement, the police denied a report in the Kaieteur News of February 23rd which said it that it had been slow to act in the matter. The police laid out the sequence of events involved and said that the complainant herself has expressed surprise at the allegation that the police were tardy in dealing with her matter.

The police release follows:

“The Guyana Police Force is responding to an article published in the Kaieteur News on Saturday February 23, 2013, under the caption `Canadian citizen says Army Major sodomized her, police slow to act’.

“While the police do not wish to comment on the detailed and vivid manner in which the victim’s alleged ordeal has been publicized, we are strongly refuting the boldly stated claim that the police was slow to act in response to the report made.

“In clearing the air on this matter, the Guyana Police Force wishes to state that during the morning of Friday February 15, 2013, the woman telephoned a senior police officer whose office is at the Leonora Police Station, and whom she knows personally, and reported to him that she had allegedly been sodomised by an army officer the day before at a hotel on the East Bank of Demerara.

“She was advised to come in to the station in order to give a statement in the matter and she reported there at around midday. Following the recording of the report, and the taking of a written statement from the woman, she was escorted to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where she was medically examined.

“Since the alleged incident had occurred in “A” Division, which has responsibility for the East Bank of Demerara, on the same Friday February 15, 2013, the senior police officer at Leonora whom the victim had spoken to, telephoned the Divisional Detective Officer at Brickdam and informed him of the matter and a transit report was also sent from Leonora Police Station to Brickdam in keeping with police procedures.

“The woman was informed of the developments and also told to report to the Divisional Detective Officer at Brickdam in order for the investigations to be followed up and she indicated that she would do so the following Monday.

“On Monday February 18, 2013, she reported to the Divisional Detective Officer at Brickdam, who was in possession of her written statement and the medical report which had been forwarded to him earlier.

“Efforts were then made by the police through the appropriate procedures for the army officer implicated to report that day to the police at Brickdam, but these were unsuccessful as the police were informed that he was on a training programme out of town. However the police visited the scene where the incident is alleged to have taken place and later arrangements were put in place for the army officer to report to the police on Thursday February 21, 2013, which was communicated to the victim.

“On Thursday February 21, 2013, the army officer accompanied by two lawyers reported to the police at Brickdam where a confrontation was held between him and the woman. The file in this matter is expected to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecution for legal advice during today.

“The Guyana Police Force wishes to reiterate that this matter involving the alleged sodomising of the woman was promptly dealt with in a professional manner and to the satisfaction of the reporter.

“It is apparent that the perception that the police were slow to act in this matter is the erroneous view of the Kaieteur News; as the woman was contacted on the day of the publication by the police officer whom she initially reported the matter to, and she stated emphatically that at no time had she accused the police of lethargy in dealing with her report to any news reporter or anyone else and expressed surprise that such an allegation was published in the newspapers.”