Latest update November 29th, 2024 1:00 AM
Dec 09, 2009 News
Superintendent, ASP, Sgt., three constables departmentally charged – torture report
The long awaited report on the torture probe that was conducted to ascertain culpability of those who burnt the now 15 year-old boy at the Leonora has been released to the public.
The report that was released by the Ministry of Home Affairs yesterday states that the then Divisional Commander, Assistant Commissioner Paulette Morrison, knew that the lad had been burnt with methylated spirits but she claimed that she did not know the severity of the injuries.
According to the report she subsequently (later in day) instructed a Superintendent Kissoon that the tortured teen be given medical attention by the police surgeon.
It was pointed out that while Ms Morrison was not diligent as she should have been, the ranks involved were concealing material information from her in order to cover up their dastardly acts.
Assistant Commissioner Mackhanlall, who investigated this matter, stated inter alia: “This is an ugly and unfortunate incident as senior ranks did not take appropriate action to safeguard the well being of the prisoners.
“I am of the view that this Incident occurred because of lack of supervision of the ranks in the Division. If the ranks involved were properly supervised and they had understood their role as Law Enforcement Officers, and acted professionally, this incident would have been prevented, hence the Force would not have faced the embarrassment it faces due to this incident.”
The report that was submitted to the President among others stated that following the murder of a former Regional Chairman, Ramenauth Bisram, at his home at Canal No. 2 Polder 6, Twyon Thomas was arrested and was kept at La Grange, Leonora and Vreed-en-Hoop Police Stations.
Deonarine Rafick, who was also detained, was kept at Wales Police Station then Leonora Police Station. Nouravi Wilfred was kept at Leonora Police Station whilst Kishore Deonarine was kept at Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station.
Thomas, the lad who was tortured, in a written statement, alleged that on October 28, last, while he was in custody at the La Grange Police Station, he was interviewed by a female rank and a male rank in relation to Bisram’s murder, but denied the allegation.
About 16:00 hrs that day he was escorted to Leonora Police Station by Constables Foo and Singh and placed in custody.
At that time there were no visible injuries on him on the exposed parts of his body, according to the report.
Later that day Thomas was taken to the C.I.D Office at Leonora where four ranks interviewed him in relation to murder. The teen said that the four ranks were recognizable and were attired in civilian clothing. Again Thomas maintained his innocence.
According to the released report, he alleged that during the interview, the men (meaning those with him) covered his face with a jersey, which was secured around his head with scotch tape. That process caused him to be partly suffocated and he was told to undress and he removed all his clothing after which, he was beaten with a hard object.
His hands were then bound in front and he was placed to lie on the floor and beaten on his feet.
During that ordeal, he managed to partly remove the jersey from his face but was simultaneously hit behind his neck by one of the policemen.
The jersey was pulled back over his head and he was dealt a lash with a heavy object to his stomach.
The lad related that on the floor, he felt a cold substance being poured to the region of his genitals and upper part of the thigh and simultaneously, he felt a burning sensation and he screamed.
He alleged that the ranks removed the jersey and he saw the area of his genitals on fire, which was extinguished by the ranks and a fan and gel were provided to him as a salve.
Immediately after, an East Indian man who identified himself as Doctor Foo and can be recognized if seen again entered the Office with three eggs and advised him to apply the white of the eggs to the burnt area and he complied.
The lad was then forced to sign a statement saying that he was a member of the gang that stabbed Bisram multiple times and robbed him of cash and a gun.
Whilst in custody and after complaining of severe pains, he complained to the Police and requested to see a Doctor or his parents. These were denied but later in the day a brown bag was placed over his head and he was removed from the lock-ups to the Enquiries Office where he was seen by a man who he assumed to be a Doctor and was provided with medication, which he had to apply himself.
The female and male ranks that the young man says interviewed him while he was at La Grange Police Station were identified as Woman Detective Sergeant Abrams and Detective Assistant Superintendent Wright.
“They alleged that Thomas denied the allegation (of murder) at the time of the interview and at the time he had no injuries on the exposed parts of his body and ASP Wright instructed that Thomas be taken to the Leonora Police Station.
The report pointed out that W/Corporal Longe S/0 In-charge of Leonora Police Station, W/L/Cpl Demonick and W/Constable Phillips who performed duties in the Enquiries Office at Leonora Police Station on October 28, alleged that Thomas had no injuries on the exposed parts of his body when he was brought from La Grange to Leonora Police Station.
During that said day Constable De Souza took Thomas to the C.I.D Office where he remained. He was never taken back to the Leonora Police Station lock-ups during their tour of duty.
Constable De Souza admitted that on the following day he removed the teen from the Leonora lock-ups to the C.I.D Office where he handed him over to Sergeant Lall, who was in company with Dolai.
He stated that Lall took the teen into the Interview Room and beat him with a piece of wood.
“He left the area for a short while and on returning he saw Lall still beating Thomas whose head was covered with a cloth…He was instructed by Sergeant Lall to secure the cloth with scotch tape around Thomas’ head, which he did, and departed the C.I.D Office.”
He charges that upon his return he saw fire in the region of Thomas’s genital area and Dolai and Lall were attempting to extinguish the flames.
De Souza stated that ASP Wright, Sergeant Lall and himself took Thomas to Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station.
Corporal July, who was on duty on upon the teen’s return to Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station, was instructed by Sergeant Singh to accept Thomas.
She had observed that the teen had burns to the lower parts of his body and the Sergeant was informed but he insisted that the prisoner be kept.
ASP Wright was the Duty Officer at Divisional Headquarters, Leonora Police Station at the time and saw Constable Dolai taking a written statement from teen in the presence of Constable De Souza.
He claimed that around midnight whilst he was in his Office, he received information from the Operations Room that Thomas who had injuries to his lower abdomen was taken to the Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station.
He said that he instructed Sergeant Clarke and Corporal Foo to visit and examine Thomas but on their return, he was advised that Thomas’s injuries were minor and that he had received treatment.
He did not enquire how the teen sustained his injuries, but on reporting the incident to Assistant Commissioner Morrison he informed her that Thomas was burnt with methylated and matches by Dolai.
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