Two Guyanese policemen charged in torture of teen in custody
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| Published on Wednesday, November 4, 2009 | Email To Friend Print Version
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GEORGETOWN, Guyana -- Police in Guyana say the two ranks accused of torturing a young boy, including setting ablaze his genitals during an interrogation, have been charged criminally.
Police in a statement on Tuesday confirmed the men will be appearing in court on Wednesday to answer to charges of inflicting grievous bodily harm and excessive use of force on a prisoner.
Investigations conducted by the Police Office of Professional Responsibility into allegations of the excessive use of force on prisoners by ranks at Leonora Police Station, resulted in two ranks being charged Tuesday. The two will appear in court Wednesday in Georgetown.
Meanwhile, on Monday, Commissioner of Police Henry Greene told reporters that torture was not part of the force’s doctrine and assured that the miscreants who committed the act will be shamed publicly.
He noted that the men were arrested for the murder of a former government official and police should be able to investigate and interrogate but not brutalize.
“We do not condone those sorts of things in the force, it is not part of our doctrine and they will be dealt with publicly,” Greene said.
There has been widespread outrage over the incident with the all the main political parties and the government calling the act horrible.
The top cop himself has condemned the act, which he says has caused people to “paint the force with a broad brush” labeling all the ranks as bad.
“All our good is forgotten because of two ranks,” Greene said. He noted that the force has come under attack because of a few ranks’ wrongdoing…All of us are being put in a group and castigated for what a few decided, that they are going to commit an act that is not proper, that is not right.”
Greene reiterated that the force never teaches its ranks to get involved in such acts that have now left a stain on those who are going about their duties ”in accordance with the law of the land”.
“Nowhere in our standing orders and teaching do we teach torture…” the commissioner said. Standing Order 73, which deals with the care and custody of prisoners, clearly states that persons in police custody must be treated courteously and humanely.
He said police in their anxiety to capture criminals sometimes go overboard to solve crimes and are guilty of committing the same.
“You commit yourselves, we investigate, if evidence is against you, the next step is to put you before the courts for them to decide,” he said.
Greene also pointed out that Standing Order 56 states that the police by virtue of the office are given certain powers with regards to the arrest and detention of prisoners. However, he said, they must not use that power to ill-treat prisoners.
He noted that the police force has been in existence for 170 years and will continue to serve and protect, “We have done it and we will continue to work… we do not tolerate torture.”
This recent act has left both the country’s security forces with the stain of being involved in torture.
Members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) were embroiled in allegations of torturing several persons including some of their colleagues.
These allegations of torture have seen widespread outrage and condemnation as political parties, with the government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) including the Private Sector Commission calling for an independent inquiry into the matter. | | | | Reads : 568 | | | |
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