Police allegedly burn youth’s hands during probe

Last Updated on Tuesday, 3 June 2014, 3:24 by GxMedia

An East Coast Demerara man has claimed that police burnt him to his hands during an investigation into a criminal offence, the law enforcement agency said.

The injured man has been identified as 19-year old Junior Thorrington of Eastville Housing Scheme, Annandale Village.

He was allegedly burnt while in custody at the Sparendaam Police Station between May 25 and 27, 2014.

The Guyana Police Force said its Office of Professional Responsibility was investigating the incident.

The boy alleged that he was also beaten by police after he was arrested for loitering. He was then accused by investigators of being involved in a robbery.

Thorrington’s hands were allegedly soaked with methylated spirits and set ablaze by investigators. He was subsequently released from custody.

Thorrington’s ordeal is reminiscent of police burning the genitals of then 15-year old Twyon Thomas during an investigation into the killing of  retired Region Three Vice Chairman, Raminaught Bisram in 2009. The High Court subsequently awarded him GUY$6.5 million in damages that the State eventually paid.

This latest case of alleged torture and inhumane punishment at the hands of the police force brings to three the number of similar cases. No one has been charged to date, even as the files shuttle between the police force, Office of Professional Responsibility and the Police Complaints Authority.

The others are the condom-covered sodomy of Colwyn Harding last November and the shooting in the mouth of 15-year old Alex Griffith in May, 2014.