Two Vigilance station corporals under close-arrest in torture probe

Two policemen from the Vigilance Police Station on the East Coast Demerara have been placed on close arrest and as the Police Office of Professional Responsibility probes a case of suspected torture.

Those under close arrest are said to be two Corporals of Police, one attached to the Criminal Investigation Department and the other, General Duties.

On Sunday a video surfaced with a 17-year-old speaking about the torture he received at the hands of the police while at the station being held and questioned in relation to a robbery under arms.

The teen in his video account of the ordeal while speaking from a hospital bed with hands cuffs and shackles, claimed that in the process of him being questioned about the matter, a policeman set him alight with the use of a lighter.

On Sunday evening, Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken in a statement to the press said that no police officer or other members of the force will be allowed to shield under police protection when their actions are found to be outside of the laws and the SOPs of the force.

“No member of the force will be shielded if found in breach of the police regulations” Hicken’s statement to the press noted.

“If any rank is found to have breached the SOPs then regulations will be enforced and/or if any rank act independently outside of the law, then that rank will be dealt with condignly and face the full brunt of the law” the statement also said.