The police file on the investigation of the allegations that attorney Nirvan Singh assaulted and hurled racial insults to Police Constable Shawnette Bollers is currently being reviewed by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Contacted for an update yesterday, an official in the DPP’s Chambers told Stabroek News that the file was received by the Chambers within the past week and it is being “looked at”.
The Guyana Police Force (GPF) had remained silent on the matter until Singh broke his silence earlier this month.
In a statement, Singh had said that the racist conduct that he was accused of in no way reflects his philosophy or personal values, and as he was awaiting the court to properly determine the matter, he was remaining respectful and faithful to his values.
Acting Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken had subsequently said that the matter was investigated by the police and they are awaiting legal advice from the DPP on the way forward in the matter.
Bollers has filed a defamation suit against Singh as well as a private criminal charge.
In her statement of claim for the lawsuit, she has said that while on duty on the night of March 20 at the home of former Chancellor Carl Singh at Middle and Cummings streets, Georgetown, his son (the Defendant), approached and chased her off the property.
She said that the incident occurred at approximately 22:13 hrs that night and she was forced to immediately abandon her post and duties, having to walk for a couple of miles to another location “in the dark of night alone.”
Bollers also said in her statement that Singh in a “loud and aggressive” manner berated her for about quarter of an hour, then began using a series of defamatory words and racist expressions.
On Wednesday, Singh was placed on $100,000 bail after he faced a private criminal charge
Singh, 35, of Middle and Cummings streets, Georgetown, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts’ where he denied that on March 20, 2022, at Middle and Cummings streets, he made derogatory and racial remarks to Bollers while she was on duty at his father’s residence, where he also resided.
Bail was granted on the condition that Singh is not to make any contact with Bollers by any means or have anyone contact the woman.
Exercising her right
Asked about the decision to pursue a private charge, her attorney, Eusi Anderson, told this newspaper yesterday that like any other private citizen, his client is exercising her right, which is outlined in the constitution.
“She is exercising her right under the constitution to determine how best she wishes to approach the matter. She is hopeful, very hopeful that the DPP would not exercise her powers to take over the proceedings….We think that would be a most regretful outcome as she tries to get some justice,” Anderson explained.
He noted that in matters of such a nature, charges have usually been laid within a matter of days without the police investigation even being completed.
“Today is 22nd of April, almost one month and two days since this incident. Ms Bollers has made a report to the police. I think in the very week this incident happened….In less time than a month and two days, with not even a complete police report or statements taken, charges are usually laid,” he noted.
In Bollers’ case, he said, there has been a clear delay in the procedure. Anderson pointed out that a confrontation was not even held between Bollers and Singh.
“This is a young lady who has made a police report. This is a young lady who has been waiting for an opportunity to confront the perpetrator and have the usual thing police do when investigating a matter….We are at 32 days after and that has not happened,” Anderson said.
“Nothing was held…All that happened is…I have seen reports that an investigation was held….I cannot comment on what the Guyana Police Force does and doesn’t do in terms of the Standard Operating Procedures for an investigation…..but what I can tell you is what happens more often than not is the persons are invited to the police station, the person making the accusation and the accused, they each relate their stories….they even take them back to the site, there is a confrontation. None of that happened,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Stabroek News on Thursday incorrectly reported that Anderson objected to bail for Singh at his arraignment. He did not. This newspaper regrets the error.
