Harassment at Sparendaam Police Station

Mar 25, 2015 Letters

Dear Editor,
I am writing this article so that the public, the Minister of Home Affairs and the newly appointed Commissioner of Police, Mr Seelall Persaud, can be aware of the treatment that people receive at the Sparendaam Police Station.
On Saturday 14th March, 2015, I visited that said police station, where one of my family members was arrested. Upon arriving I saw the officer that made the arrest writing the statement. After that, he told the individual to sign the document. That’s where I became concerned to know that the individual is semi-literate and the officer did not make an attempt to read the statement to him. I intervened and said to the individual, “Don’t sign until you read.”
Upon my saying this, an officer who was in casual clothing standing behind the counter where I was, asked me who I was to say that. I told him I am the individual’s relative and it is the law for him to read that statement before he signs it.
After I said that, the same individual who told me that he is the Corporal of the station said in an indignant manner, “Get Out of the Station”.
I left and went outside on the stairway where he came again and said get out of the station. Where was the respect of a Corporal towards the people of this country? Is this the way the police officer use their powers? As an individual who studied Forensic Science at a senior level in this country I am familiar with the procedures that the policemen should follow but I am beginning to wonder if these policemen are aware of their code of conduct.
I was once a juror in the high court and was able to observe that these are the said policemen who would stand in the witness box and testify before the jurors, prosecutors and judge that they read the caution statement to the individual before they placed their signature.
I am calling on the relevant authorities and the newly appointed Commissioner of Police to investigate this matter of the said policeman’s behaviour to me. I remember the Commissioner when he was acting in that position said he won’t tolerate ‘no Rogue’ police officers therefore I am looking forward for a response from the Commissioner regarding this matter.
And I am recommending (CCTV) cameras to be installed in every police station so the commissioner can see the behaviour of the persons we put in charge to look after the security of this country.
I am writing to the Ombudsman, Justice Winston Moore, for further advice. I hope it wouldn’t be another police harassment case that gets swept under the carpet.
S. R

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