18 year old to file law suit against Attorney General, Police
AUGUST 15, 2011 | BY KNEWS | FILED UNDER NEWS
An 18 year old who was locked up at the Central police station by ranks of the Joint Services for over 18 hrs without being given food, water or even allowed a phone call is set to seek redress through the High Court. Prominent Attorney at law Mursaline Bacchus has dispatched a notice to the Attorney General that he intends to file a constitutional motion seeking remedy in the high court of Guyana for his client Rawle Carter who was wrongfully arrested and imprisoned by members of the Joint services.
In the notice addressed to the Attorney General of Guyana At 95 Carmichael Street North Cummingsburg Georgetown, the Attorney General has approximately one month upon receipt of the said notice to respond or settle the matter, failing which the attorney will move to the Supreme Court of Judicature of Guyana for damages for trespass to the person, it further stated that for that on the 19th day of June 2011 a member of the Guyana Police Force unlawfully arrested his client at Cumberland East Canje Berbice and imprisoned him at Central Police station lock-up until the 20th of June.
The young man who has never been involved in a police story and some others were picked up by a joint services patrol on the evening of Sunday 19th whilst on his way home on his bicycle before being dumped into a police pickup and thrown into the lock ups. He was never told why he was arrested until they were at the station, where they were told they were arrested for rape allegations. His request for a phone call was met with a series of expletives. He was booked and placed in the lock ups with the others. They were subsequently taken out and told to take off their clothes, where they were checked for marks, and or tattoos before being thrown back into the lock ups.
Sometime around Midday on Monday they were again taken out of the lock up and questioned. They were never read their rights (about having a lawyer, their parents or the right to remain silent). After the statement they were again placed into the lockups. All the time they were not given any food, water or allowed a phone call. His relatives had no clue where he was. Around twilight on Monday they were escorted out of the lock ups again where they were questioned once more, after which they were told to go home and return on Wednesday.
At the station on Wednesday, accompanied by his mother, they met a senior officer .They were told that the matter was finished and the officer apologized on behalf of the Guyana police force for the tardiness of the ranks on duty and for not being allowed a phone call.
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