Two brothers who are members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), were this morning jointly charged with abducting and wounding 17-year-old Akashay Budiram who was allegedly beaten and burnt at their La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara home.
Those charged are Isaiah Bernard, 26, a police constable attached to the Wales Police Station and Daniel Bernard, 24, a police constable attached to the Tactical Services Unit. Both of them reside at Lot 1092 Thirty-Eight Street La Parfaite Harmonie. They appeared at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court where they were slapped with two charges.
The first charge stated that on December 16, 2019, at Schoonord, West Coast Demerara, they abducted Budhiram with intent to wrongfully confine him.
It was further alleged that on the same date and same location, they unlawfully and maliciously wounded Budhiram with intent to maim, disfigure, disable or cause grievous bodily harm.
They denied both charges after it was read to them. The brothers were represented by attorney-at-law Dexter Todd who asked that his clients be released on bail. They were each released on $200,000 bail on each of the two charges.
The lawyer told the court that his clients were not served an interdiction letter and will continue to perform their duties as per normal until the determination of the trial.
Facts presented by the court prosecutor stated that on the day in question, at around 11:30 am, Budhiram was at a Superbet shop when the brothers along with six others approached him and started beating him with a baseball ball bat and crowbar. The brothers then accused him of breaking and entering their home after which they handcuffed him and forced him into a car.
They then took him to a location where they threw a hot substance on him, causing injuries. After the brothers left, Budhiram escaped and immediately reported the matter to the La Parfaite Harmonie Police Station. The brothers were contacted, told of the offence, cautioned and arrested.
With no objections raised by the prosecutor, the men were released on$200,000 bail on each of the two charges with condition that they report to Leonora Police Station every Friday before 17:30 hours. They were also required to lodge their passports. The matter was transferred to the Wales Magistrate’s Court and was adjourned until January 30th, 2020.
