A 12-year-old boy, who said that three police officers slapped, beat and kicked him faced two of them in court yesterday and repeated the allegations.
The boy, who had been in custody at the Den Amstel, West Coast Demerara police station had made the allegations to Magistrate Fazil Azeez, who mandated that the persons be present in court to hear the accusations.
Two of them were present at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court yesterday and the magistrate told the prosecutor to inform the Divisional Commander of the accusations. The minor, who has since been committed to the New Opportunity Corps, after being found guilty of break and enter and larceny and admitting to unlawful possession, said that one of the ranks “benched” him with a belt, while another made him kneel down and kicked him in the back. He said that another rank, who was not present, had slapped him.
“I am not going to sit here and let it go unnoticed in this court,” Magistrate Azeez said though he noted that what the child said was only an allegation at this point.
He expressed his displeasure too that the police took too long to get the prisoners to court causing delays. He noted that even though the Den Amstel police station was close by, when the minor’s matter was called, he had not been taken to the court.
