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Fisherman beating death…DPP recommends Departmental charges for six ranks
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) recommended that six ranks from the Leonora Police Station face departmental charges in the November 2014 death of fisherman Rahim Khatoon.
Asif Rahim Khatoon
A police release stated that the departmental charges were recommended for two police sergeants, a corporal, a lance corporal and two constables for neglect of duty.
However, the DPP advised that no criminal charges be proferred against any of the police ranks.
She also recommended that police attempt to locate a prisoner who allegedly beat Khatoon while the two were in custody at Leonora.
“Following the completion of investigations by the Police Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) into the circumstances surrounding the death of Asif Rahim Khatoon, of Meten-Meer-Zorg, WCD, which occurred at his home on November 27, 2014, the police have sought and received legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
“It was alleged that Asif Rahim Khatoon had been assaulted by police ranks while in custody at the Leonora Police Station during the evening of November 21, 2014.
“According to the advice of the Chairman of the Police Complaints Authority, the wife of the deceased, Soorsattie Chandrapaul, failed to attend an identification parade which was to be held by the police for the purpose of affording her an opportunity to identify the police ranks who might have assaulted the deceased on the evening of November 21, 2014.
“In her statement to the police, she said that she heard her husband saying that he had been struck by a police rank who was in the tray of the vehicle on his way to the Leonora Police Station, but this evidence is hearsay and cannot be relied upon.” The release stated.
“Further, she stated that before they had entered the Enquiries Office at the Leonora Police Station, a short stocky policeman had kicked her husband under his chin.
“Due to her failure to attend the identification parade, the identity of the ranks who allegedly assaulted her husband remains unknown. Therefore, there is no evidence linking any particular police rank to the injuries inflicted on the deceased.
“The Director of Public Prosecutions has advised that no criminal charges be preferred against any of the police ranks.
“However, Departmental charges have been advised against two Sergeants, one Corporal, one Lance Corporal and two Constables for neglect of duty.”
According to the release, evidence collected during the investigations revealed that another prisoner had allegedly assaulted Asif Rahim Khatoon while he was in custody.
“The prisoner had been released from custody prior to the launching of the investigations and efforts to locate him since have so far been unsuccessful.
“The Chairman of the Police Complaints Authority had advised that he be charged with Manslaughter.
“The Director of Public Prosecutions has advised that more efforts be made to locate him, and if located, that further advice be sought as it relates to him.
Chairman of the Police Complaints Authority Cecil Kennard told Kaieteur News that while he had advised that no criminal charges be leveled against any of the ranks, he had recommended departmental charges against some ranks.
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