Investigation launched into alleged deadly police beating as Wife cries for justice

 

By Fareeza Haniff

[www.inewsguyana.com] – The Police Office of Professional Responsibility has launched an investigation into the alleged beating and subsequent death of Fisherman, 37 – year – old Asif Rahim by ranks of the Leonora Police Station on the West Coast of Demerara.

Rahim, a father of four, died at his Ocean Garden, Meten – Meer – Zorg, WCD home on Thursday, November 27, days after he alleged he was beaten by police ranks.

His wife,Sursattie Chandrapaul known as Lily is calling for justice and for the Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee to look into the matter. The Police Force has since noted that Rahim was arrested by the police on Saturday November 22, following investigations into a report that he had allegedly assaulted his wife.

The Force stated that the man resisted arrest but was eventually subdued and taken to the Leonora Police Station, where he made no complaints against the arresting ranks.

“At the Leonora Station Asif Rahim was kept on the bench handcuffed to another man in custody whom he later reported had allegedly assaulted him,” the Police Force noted in a statement.

According to the statement, Rahim was subsequently taken to the Parika Police Station later that Saturday where he was kept in the lockups. He was charged with assault and brought to the Leonora Police Station on Monday November 24, 2014, to attend the Magistrate Court.

While at Leonora, his wife reported Asif Rahim was allegedly beaten by the police and as a consequence he was taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital where he was referred to the West Demerara Regional Hospital.

The wife told iNews that he was then referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital, which then sent him to the Dental Clinic. The Clinic, she said, sent her husband back to the GPHC to be admitted in the surgery ward, since his jaw was broken in two places.

According to the mother of four, her husband asked to be discharged from the GPHC on Thursday since he did not receive any treatment and was crying out for pain in his chest, back and stomach.

Chandrapaul said her husband vomited blood. She explained that an Officer from the Police Complaints Authority visited her husband prior to his death but did not take a statement from him, even though he told the Officer that he could identify the ranks that beat him.

“My husband keep saying all the time that the Police brutalise he. Because when he left house, he was in no way injured. They took the gun butt and stamp he in the face…he lie in the back of the vehicle and stamp he all the time in his face and chest with the butt of the gun,” the woman told iNews.

She said five X – rays were conducted on her husband’s face and chest, which proved that his jaw was broken.

Chandarpaul wants justice to be served as she noted that Rahim was the sole breadwinner of the family. The man leaves to mourn his wife, three daughters [age 19, 17 and 9) and a 14 – year – old son.