The Guyana Police Force (GPF) has issued a wanted bulletin for 29-year-old Maverick De Abreu in relation to grievous bodily harm inflicted on the Managing Director of the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD), Joel Simpson, nearly three weeks ago.
The assailant’s last known address is Lot 56 Broad Street, Charlestown.
Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of old Maverick De Abreu is asked to contact the police on telephone numbers 226-1389, 227-2128, 226-7476, 226-7065, 227-2603, 227-1611, 227-1149, 227-1270, 225-6940 to 9, 225-3650, 226-1928, 911 or the nearest police station.
All information will be treated with the strictest confidence, the police said.
De Abreu was identified as the leader of the gang of men who assaulted Simpson.
It was around 04:00hrs on June 15 that De Abreu and a group of his friends allegedly attacked the gay rights activist at a food stall in Bourda market, leaving Simpson to seek medical attention.
The Guyana Standard has been informed that prior to the assault, the same group of men had thrown an alcoholic beverage at Simpson and a friend while they were dancing at a night club on Main Street, Georgetown.
Simpson subsequently left the club after he complained to management but got no justice. He later went on to purchase food at Bourda when he saw the men for a second time.
In a social media post, the activist said when he saw the men at the food stall, he ignored them and proceeded to order his food. While ordering, he said that the gang attacked him, forcing the sellers nearby to intervene.
De Abreu is said to be a known troublemaker who was charged by the police a number of times.
In fact, De Abreu was charged in February 2017 with discharging a loaded firearm at his then-pregnant girlfriend and her sister at Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown.
He was never convicted since the victim did not pursue the matter. On April 16 of that same year, a wanted bulletin was issued for De Abreu after he allegedly assaulted Trinidadian Soca sensation, Rodney LeBlanc called, “Benjai.” That matter is still ongoing in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
