Police OPR dismisses Shaka Chase torture allegations

Sep 26, 2013 News

Shaka Chase, the man who was initially charged with the murder of policeman Romain Cleto will now have to rely on the High Court for redress following the dismissal of his claims of torture by the police Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR).
Yesterday, Chase received a letter from the new head of the OPR, Retired Assistant Commissioner of Police, former Crime Chief Heeralall Makhanlall, informing him that the matter was investigated and there was not enough evidence to support his claims.
“With reference to your complaint made at the Office of Professional Responsibility, against ranks of the Criminal Investigations Department, I have to inform you that the matter was investigated and advice sought from the Director of Public Prosecutions. It was advised that there is insufficient evidence to take action against the ranks. Hence this matter is considered closed,” Makhanlall wrote.
Last May, Chase had claimed that he was subjected to electric shocks and had a liquid poured down his throat by investigators who then forced him to sign a confession statement.
The police had quickly denied the allegations in a statement a few days before instituting the murder charge against Chase.
Following the allegations made by Chase, the police had claimed, “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, Chase was seen by a private doctor and was taking medication for what has been described as internal injuries.
“No one knows what the liquid was that he was made to drink,” a source close to the former murder accused had stated.
Apart from Chase, Natasha Blackman had also accused the police of torturing her to say that she saw Chase at the scene of the shooting. Commissioner of Police (ag) Leroy Brumell had instructed that the head of the OPR, Retired Assistant Commissioner Mohamed Jameer spearhead the investigations into allegations made by both Chase and Blackman.
Jameer is at present on leave and it is not yet clear if Blackman has received a similar response.
The announcement by the OPR did not come as a surprise to Chase, although he is disappointed at the outcome.
“I was expecting this. A policeman tell me that this would’a happen but I doubt he. I tell he ‘this can’t happen…you ain’t see they had to drop the murder charge against me?’ But I expect this,” Chase told this newspaper, adding that he still remains fearful for his life.
His civil action against the police comes up for hearing on October 8th.

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Police OPR dismisses Shaka Chase torture allegations

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