Latest update April 1st, 2026 12:40 AM
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‘Torture’ victim gives OPR 15-page statement
Acting on advice, former murder accused Shaka Chase sat down with investigators from the police Office of Professional Responsibility and gave a detailed statement of his alleged torture at the hands of detectives from the Criminal Investigations Department
Accompanied by his father and social activist, Mark Benschop, Chase gave a 15-page statement, in a five-hour meeting with investigators, detailing how detectives allegedly administered electric shock to his body and then
Shaka Chase
poured a liquid down his throat.
All of this allegedly happened while he was in custody as a suspect in the shooting of police corporal Romein Cleto on April 27 last, as the investigators, three of whom were named, forced him to sign a confession statement.
Chase initially had reservations about cooperating with the OPR investigation into his allegations but decided to lodge an official complaint yesterday, after he was invited to do so by a police official on Tuesday.
Kaieteur News understands that Head of the OPR, Retired Assistant Commissioner Mohamed Jameer and lead investigating officer, Assistant Superintendent Baird, assured Chase that an official investigation into the torture allegations made against members of the Police Force will commence with immediate effect.
The police had quickly denied Chase’s allegations as well as similar ones made by Natasha Blackman, who claimed that she was forced to sign a statement that she could positively identify Chase as one of the persons in the car that was used in the Cleto shooting.
It is not yet clear if the OPR investigators have invited Blackman to give a statement.
The police in their statement issued on May 20, said that on Saturday, May 18, Attorney-at-Law Gordon Gilhuys indicated to a police officer that Shaka Chase had been assaulted by the police.
“The officer immediately had Chase taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre where he was seen and examined by a Medical Doctor who issued a medical certificate that there was no sign of injuries.”
However, immediately after his release last week, Chase was seen by a private doctor and is currently on medication for what has been described as internal injuries.
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