The Police Office of Professional Responsibility is investigating the death of Asif Rahim, of Ocean Garden, Meten-Meer-Zorg, WCD, after the dead man’s wife alleged that he was brutally beaten while in police custody over the weekend.
Rahim died yesterday, a day after he was supposed to appear before the Leonora Magistrate’s Court.
According to a police press release Rahim was arrested on Saturday after an alleged assault on his wife. Police had to subdue Rahim after he initially resisted the arrest and he was subsequently handcuffed to another man at the Leonora station. The police press release stated that Rahim later complained that the other man had assaulted him.
The police reported that Rahim was taken to the Parika Police Station that same day and kept in the lockup. He was charged on Monday, the release does not make it clear if Rahim remained in the lockup on Sunday or he returned to face his charge.
The release states that while he was being kept at Leonora Police Station his wife accused police of brutality and he was taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital where he was later referred to the West Demerara Regional Hospital. It is unclear on which day this transpired.
Stabroek News understands that the police time line differs significantly from that of Rahim’s wife and the dead man was admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital on Wednesday the day before he died.
