Karimbaksh file with DPP

Oct 27, 2026 News

…police recommend rape charge – sources

(Kaieteur News) – Police have reportedly recommended that Deputy Commissioner of Police, Fizal Karimbaksh be charged with alleged rape in the case involving a female police inspector, well placed sources have said.

Kaieteur News was told that police have completed their investigations and sent the file to the Director of Public Prosecutions chambers for further advice. As of yesterday, the file was not returned to the police.

The Guyana Police Force had confirmed that it received a report containing allegations of rape and threatening behaviour against Karimbaksh and a team was established to conduct a thorough investigation.

Fizal Karimbaksh

Earlier this month, a coalition of civil society organisations and individuals called for an independent investigation into the allegations against Karimbaksh, warning that the reported reversal of an order sending him on pre-retirement leave raises serious questions about accountability and the rule of law in Guyana. The civil society coalition said it had previously questioned why the deputy commissioner appeared to be receiving special treatment despite the serious allegations against him. “The Sexual Offences Act (SOA) lays out clear processes to be followed in sexual offences cases, including paper committals and the exchange of all statements by both prosecution and defence lawyers,” the letter noted.

It questioned whether survivors, Guyanese organisations and the wider public could have confidence in police investigating allegations against one of their own, particularly an officer of Karimbaksh’s seniority. “Justice must not only be served but must appear to be served,” the coalition said, calling for the immediate appointment of a special independent prosecutor to investigate and prosecute the case.

The signatories also called on Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack to explain what they described as a prolonged delay in advising on the institution of charges. According to the letter, credible statements alleging sexual abuse and threats at gunpoint were reportedly made against Karimbaksh, and the file was sent to the DPP for advice. “We therefore call on the DPP to break her silence and explain her long delay in advising that charges be instituted, including arrest, as is the norm for procedures for any sexual offence crime,” the coalition stated.

Former Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC) and retired Assistant Commissioner of Police Paul Slowe just last week criticised a nine-page legal opinion emanating from the Attorney General’s Chambers, noting that Karimbash being sent on accumulated vacation leave during an ongoing rape investigation does not constitute disciplinary action and requires no constitutional hurdle. The comments, shared by Slowe during a recent “Speaking Out: Exposing Corruption and Incompetence” programme, follow mounting public scrutiny over allegations against the senior officer Karimbaksh by a junior female, who reportedly submitted a formal statement detailing claims of rape and threatening behaviour.

Analysing the legal opinion issued by the Ministry of Legal Affairs, which addresses the constitutional framework governing senior ranks under Articles 211, 212, 225, and 232 of the Constitution of Guyana, the former PSC chair contended that State legal advisers have conflated administrative safeguards with formal disciplinary proceedings. While Article 233 confines the Police Commissioner’s independent disciplinary powers strictly to ranks below inspector, observers maintain that placing an officer on earned accumulated leave to facilitate an unhindered investigation carries no legal bar or penalty.

“Sending Karimbash on accumulated vacation leave cannot be interpreted as him being disciplined,” the former chairman stated, pointing out that public service precedents, including previous instances where senior officers were instructed to proceed on accumulated leave, demonstrate that administrative options remain immediately available to executive leadership.

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DPP, Fizal Karmbaksh, Police Service Commission, rape

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