[www.inewsguyana.com] – The Timehri Police ranks implicated in the alleged rape of 23 – year – old Colwyn Harding have denied that they used a condom – covered baton and inserted it into the anus of the young man.
This is according to Police Commissioner, Leroy Brumell, during a press conference at the Police Headquarters on Thursday, January 16. The investigation into the reported sexual assault is scheduled to be completed on Tuesday, January 21 by the Police Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), the Top Cop told the media.
The Police Constable accused of the gruesome act has been identified 31 – year – old Devin Mahendra Singh, who resides in Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara. The Constable has been taken off duty and is under close arrest, while the other ranks, numbering between 6 to 8, were transferred to Georgetown, including a Superintendent.
The injured Harding is currently a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital, since he suffered ruptured intestines as a result of the alleged rape.
At the press conference, Crime Chief Seelall Persaud admitted that there was a lack of supervision at the Timehri Police Station and standard operating procedures were not followed.
As the investigations continue, the Top Cop could not say if a statement was taken from Harding as yet, as he admitted that his office decided to transfer the investigation to the OPR due to the hype created in the media.
The alleged rape reportedly took place sometime between November 15 – 18, 2013, and according to the Police Commissioner, he only received the report of an “assault” in the second week of December 2013.
He said he passed on the report to the Commander of the Division, George Vyphius to commence an investigation. Brumell maintained that he did not know the extent of the assault, while Vhyvius explained that he was only made aware of the condom laden baton allegations via a recording of Harding from a reporter on Thursday, January 9.
According to Vyphius, at no time did the mother of the young man reported that a baton was inserted into the anus of her son. Meanwhile, the Police Commissioner noted that no commitment was made by the Police Force in relation to the $100M compensation that Harding is seeking.
