All rogue cops must go – Minister Ramjattan

– describes former Attorney General’s criticism as “utter idiocy”

“I want the police out there to know that there will be zero tolerance for any harassment, whether sexual or harassment of people’s rights, bullyism, or the more serious one of torture, they will have to go, and criminal prosecution will follow.”

By Jarryl Bryan

Vice President and Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan has issued a stern warning to police

Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan

officers, who are inclined to be abusive, that under the new dispensation they will not be tolerated or sheltered within the force. He also blasted former Attorney General Anil Nandlall’s recent criticism of the recent sacking of a policeman who was found liable for the torture of a teenager a few years ago, stating that his objection was “utter idiocy” and should not be emanating from someone who once had responsibility for the Government’s legal affairs. Ramjattan was speaking to members of the media at the Ministry of Public Security on Brickdam, following several courtesy calls by members of the Diplomatic community. Commenting on the decision to sack former police Corporal Mohanram Dolai, who was placed before the courts for allegedly burning the genitals of 15 year old Twyon Thomas while he was in custody at the Leonora police station in 2009, Ramjattan declared that justice had been meted out to the cop for the sadistic act. “I am very happy that at least one of them has been dismissed in the Public’s interest. There are two categories of ranks: from the ordinary ranking to Inspector and above.” Ramjattan, who is also an Attorney-at-Law, had represented Thomas in court, winning a $6.5M judgment for the teen in 2011. He pointed out that ranks from Inspector and above could only be dismissed by the Police Service Commission (PSC), while ranks below Inspector level came under the jurisdiction of the Commissioner of Police.

Narine Lall

This was in defence against challenges from Nandlall, who had pronounced in sections of the media recently that Ramjattan’s agitation for Lall’s dismissal was unconstitutional and a manifestation of being a “control freak”. “That is utter idiocy…for a former Attorney General to regard that as control freakish. It is justice! Notwithstanding it took six years in coming.” Ramjattan also noted that the promotion of the two cops after being charged with torture happened under the previous administration during the tenure of Nandlall as Attorney General. “I convinced the Commissioner that our Police Force must not have rogue cops who are going to put methylated spirits on a person’s privates and then strike a match to burn it.” “That is torture. It is inhuman, degrading treatment and it is criminal. In other countries more oriented, they would have been jailed. And notwithstanding that there was no jail term; that does not mean that they are not rogue cops.” “There was a finding by a senior judge, Justice (Roxanne) George, in the High Court, that this was torture. Torture is criminal in my book and they must not be retained in the Force, much less be promoted.” Ramjattan also affirmed that all other rogue cops, especially those whose wrongdoing Judges would have

Mohanram Dolai

pronounced on, would be removed from the Force. “Even those cops who have had serious allegations internally, once there have been investigations and they are found culpable, they will go too.” “I want the police out there to know that there will be zero tolerance for any harassment, whether sexual or harassment of people’s rights, bullyism, or the more serious one of torture, they will have to go and criminal prosecution will follow.” Regarding the continued presence in the Police Force of Inspector Narine Lall, who was also found culpable for the teen’s torture, Ramjattan made no bones about his intent to have that officer stripped of his duties through the PSC. “The next step is to write to the PSC, sending Justice George’s judgment, along with its findings, and remind them that it is the policy of this administration to get rid of rogue cops.” “And I will be urging that there be a revisitation of the Inspector’s retention in the Police Force and that he be removed by them, as the proper authority.” In a case that plunged the previous administration and the Guyana Police Force into a sea of controversy, both locally and internationally, 15-year-old Twyon Thomas had his genitals doused with methylated spirits and set alight by ranks during a murder investigation in 2009. Dolai and Lall were subsequently charged with the brutal act. After that matter ended in the Magistrate’s Court without conviction for the two accused, Ramjattan brought a civil case against the two cops, the then Commissioner of Police and the Attorney General. A judge found that the state was liable and awarded $6.5M to the injured teenager.