Maverick De Abreu, the man wanted in connection with the assault on gay rights activist Joel Simpson, yesterday surrendered to the police in the presence of his attorney, Siand Dhurjon.
Dhurjon, when contacted last evening, confirmed that he accompanied De Abreu yesterday afternoon to the Brickdam Police Station, where he was taken into custody pending investigations.
The attorney explained that his client submitted a written statement to the police on the allegation that he assaulted Simpson. According to Dhurjon, his client denied the allegation that he assaulted Simpson and was merely present during the attack at Bourda Market.
Dhurjon also stated that the persons who attacked Simpson are unknown to his client.
Additionally, he explained that his client was only made aware that a wanted bulletin was issued for him on Sunday night. After being made aware of the bulletin, he contacted Dhurjon, who advised him to surrender himself.
De Abreu’s attorney added that he is hoping his client will be granted bail before the stipulated 72-hour detention period expires.
Simpson, Managing Director of the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD), was attacked on the morning of June 15 at Bourda Market, where he was purchasing food. The attack is being viewed as a hate crime.
Simpson had previously told Stabroek News that after a night out he decided to pick up breakfast from a regular spot in Bourda Market before heading home.
When Simpson arrived at Bourda Market, he said a group of six men who were harassing him and his friends during a stop at Palm Court were at the snackette. “The guys were there and I was waiting on my turn to order and one of them say, ‘Aye, that’s the guy from PC who disrespect we.’ I didn’t pay any mind and Aunty started asking me what I am getting. I started making my order and while ordering, I just felt being cuffed and kicked and I hit the ground,” Simpson recalled.
He fell a couple of feet away from the snackette and the group of men started to kick him about his body. Instinctively, he said, he covered his head and endured the attack before the snackette owner’s son, Dave, tried to intervene and rescue him. A City Constabulary officer who was on the scene also tried to intervene but was slapped by one of the men.
Subsequently, a verbal altercation ensued between the men and other persons around, as Dave and the City Police pulled him away before the six men left in two white cars.
This is the second occasion a wanted bulletin was issued by the police for DeAbreu.
In 2017, the police had issued a wanted bulletin for him in connection with the alleged assault of Soca artist Benjai.
De Abreu is currently on trial for the alleged assault.
