By Zoisa Fraser
Following repeated pleas for justice by relatives and several letters by attorney-at-law Anil Nandlall, the Police Complaints Authority has launched an investigation into the death of Ramesh Sawh who was found hanging by his jersey in the Enmore lock-ups in January.
Nandlall when contacted on Wednesday informed this newspaper that he had received a letter from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) stating that the issues he had raised in a previous letter are being investigated by the Police Complaints Authority.
Among the issues raised in Nandlall’s letter was the fact that there were no pipes or fixtures in the cell that could have facilitated a hanging and the fact that he was held in the lock-ups by the police before without a problem.
When contacted, Sawh’s relatives said that they were elated by this latest move and remained confident that the truth surrounding his death would eventually come out.
The family had vowed that they would never accept the police findings of suicide because he had never displayed any suicidal tendencies and they also questioned why he would want to kill himself over an allegation of stealing a car battery.
His mother Indrouttie told Stabroek News that Sawh would have celebrated his 20th birthday last Friday and it was a very emotional day for her.
She said that she spent the day painting his tomb which is located in the Enmore cemetery along with other relatives, adding that she cried most of the time as she remembered how he loved to celebrate his birthday each year. The woman said that Nandlall had advised them to meet with the DPP to discuss their case. Contact has since been made with the office.
Nandlall had indicated to this newspaper that his next move would be to file an Order of Mandamus in the High Court asking a judge to compel the DPP or a magistrate presiding in the area where the “unlawful/unnatural” death occurred, to hold an inquest in relation to the incident.
The attorney said that he is awaiting the outcome of the police investigation before he once again considers filing the order.
Meanwhile Sawh’s family continues to voice their frustration over their inability to seek an audience with the relevant authorities to discuss the matter and they remain adamant that foul play was involved in his death. They continue to say that they will not give up their fight to find justice for him.
Sawh called `Kenny’ of Logwood, Enmore, East Coast Demerara was found hanging by his jersey in his cell by a rank who had gone to check on him. He was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Following the incident, his relatives called for justice to be served and for those in authority to act swiftly to find whoever was responsible for the death.
They said that they could not accept the explanation offered by the police.
They said too that the state his body was in was not consistent with suicide. Family members had told this newspaper that Sawh had been a target for the police whenever there were petty crimes in the area and they said that whenever he was held, ranks would put a black bag over his head before trying to beat a confession out of him.
Nandlall had written to Police Commissioner (ag) Henry Greene and Director of Public Prosecutions Shalimar Ali-Hack and in their replies they both had said that the matter was being investigated and whether an inquest would be held was being considered.
Following the incident at least one of the ranks who was in the outpost at the time was transferred.
