At a time when the number of Guyana Defence Force (GDF) ranks implicated in various crimes have peaked, acting Chief of Staff, Colonel Trevor Bowman has warned that any rank involved in rape, robbery or any other crime will face the full wrath of the law.
He signalled this warning at the GDF’s 53rd anniversary where a reception was hosted on Thursday morning at Camp Ayanganna, Thomas Lands, Georgetown in observance of the milestone.
Bowman’s warning comes at a time when several ranks of GDF have already been implicated and in some cases charged with similar crimes before the Court of Law.
Just last month, two dishonoured GDF ranks who were implicated in a rape and robbery on the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) have been charged at the Suddie Magistrates’ Courts for the said offences against a young couple.
Twenty-two-year-old Rawlston Reid, of Doch Four Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara (ECD), and Isaiah Rawlins, 21, of Wisroc, Linden, have since been dismissed from the GDF.
It was previously reported that the female victim and her boyfriend were at the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground, which is close to the GDF base, for an event and about 23:30h as they were enjoying an evening together, the two ranks allegedly attacked them.
The soldiers allegedly dealt the young man several blows about his body, took away his money and gold chain, and demanded that his girlfriend have sex with them or else they would rape him. The men then proceeded to rape the young woman and even forced her boyfriend to watch the entire ordeal.
In April 2018, former Guyana Defence Force (GDF) officer, Captain Orwain Sandy was also charged and is currently on trial for the murder of his reputed lover, Reona Payne whom he allegedly shot some 13 times, emptying his service pistol following a heated argument.
After committing the act, he surrendered to police at the Ruimveldt Police Station.
Shortly after the incident, a press release sent out by the GDF stated that Sandy’s actions action does not reflect the behaviour of other soldiers and he was interdicted.
And in January last, an active Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Lance Corporal was slapped with a host of charges brought against him after he allegedly used an unlicenced gun to carry out a string of robberies on at least two victims in which over $5 million in cash and valuables were stolen.
The 21-year-old of Sophia, Greater Georgetown, Jamal Hazel is currently a remand prisoner and is on trial before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman.
