Police launch probe into strip-search allegation

Jan 05, 2017 News

Benn Kenneth Anthony

Head of Office of Professional Representation (OPR) Heeralall Mackhanlall, has said that an investigation has been launched and is currently ongoing into the report that Guyana-born French citizen Benn Kenneth Anthony was strip-searched while travelling to French Guiana.
However, Anthony is not all assured that justice will be served. He said, “The police in Guyana always say that they are investigating”.
Anthony said that last November he was humiliated and horrified when a local police rank performed a body cavity search on him.
Anthony has since made reports to the Police Complaints Authority (PCA). He said, then, that if a probe is not launched into the matter he would have considered taking legal action against the state.
Anthony also sought advice from a local attorney. He has sent a letter detailing what transpired along with a copy of the statement to the Ministry of Justice in French Guiana.
On November 20, 2016 Anthony said he was ordered by a plainclothes police rank to remove his underwear and perform squats during an immigration search at Moleson Creek, while he was making his way to board the ferry to Suriname en route to French Guiana.
Anthony has been living in French Guiana for two decades.
Anthony recalled that he was taken into an area where he was ordered by the plainclothes rank to empty his suitcase.
“He didn’t even identify himself to me. But I could recognize him if I see him again.
He just lifted up the suitcase and turned it over. When he finished searching the suitcase he asked me if I was ever charged for any offence.”
Anthony reportedly said he replied in the negative. He further went on to say that he came to Guyana to visit his grandmother.
“He found nothing illegal on me,” Anthony stressed.
He said he was still trying to come to grips with what happened. The 22-year-old man said he reported the matter to the Moleson Creek Police Station.
“I have travelled all over the world and this has never happened to me. Is this something normal for immigration in Guyana? I felt very uncomfortable with him (the rank) in that room.”
“I’m not looking for a problem with police in Guyana.
I just want them to stop doing this.” Anthony added that he is sure other passengers have been subjected to these kinds of search and is calling on them to speak out.
“I’m trying to highlight this. I want that rank to be disciplined.”
Anthony stated that when he visited the Police Outpost to report the matter, another rank told him that he cannot deal with the matter because the rank who stripped-search him is his superior.
Nevertheless, he stated a police constable took a statement from him on the instruction by another senior rank and promised to give him an update on investigations, when he returned to Guyana.
“I come back on December 7 and I see them (the rank that search him and the constable that took the statement).
They both walked past me.” A copy of the one-page statement dated 20-11-2016 with the police rank’s regulation number was seen by Kaieteur News.
“He (the constable) ain’t even signed the statement. He just put he regulation number. I don’t even think that is he regulation number. I don’t even think this statement valid.”

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