Police yesterday further questioned one of the boys identified as a victim in the Turkeyen Masjid child abuse case.
Stabroek News was told that this was done after police requested that the Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA) make the child available.
Stabroek News was unable to reach police officials up to late last evening for contact on the case.
However, ‘C’ Divisional Commander David Ramnarine, who has jurisdictional responsibility, said Tuesday that the police file on the case, in which a Muslim Scholar is implicated, was sent back to the chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice on how to proceed.
A source close to case described the situation as “pathetic and unfair,” noting that the children are beginning to feel the strain of the delays in the investigation. It was explained that to avoid identification and discomfort, the boys have been taken out of their Muslim garments and are wearing ordinary clothing.
“For their own protection they have to dress ordinary. They have been told that that they still have their religion,” the source said, while explaining that the lives of the children have been disrupted while the suspect is walking freely on the streets.
Nine boys are in the custody of the agency and medicals have confirmed that seven of them have been sexually molested.
“All they (the police) saying is that they are working but that is not enough. It is like if they have done something wrong.”
The source told this newspaper that a letter that was sent by the suspect’s attorney to the Crime Chief Seelall Persaud ought not to be a factor in the laying of charges, since that forms part of his defence.
“The wheels of justice are turning much too slowly for these children. This man should have been in court and then the lawyer would defend him. You could see in their eyes that they are suffering,” the source added.
This newspaper was told that because the children are in protective care, they cannot attend school.
The allegations against the Muslim Scholar, who was attached to the Turkeyen Masjid and employed by the Central Islamic Organization of Guyana (CIOG), surfaced about two weeks ago when a tip was given to the CCPA. Later, six more boys were identified.
Ramnarine had said that the file on the matter was sent to the Director DPP last Friday but it was returned to him with a letter from the man’s lawyer with instructions to investigate its content.
That was done and it was resent.
The DPP Shalimar Ali-Hack has recused herself from dealing with the matter after allegations surface that she attempted instructed to instruct the police to release the man. Ali-Hack denied the allegations.
