The Police Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) has launched a probe into an allegation of torture levelled against a cop by a 17-year-old Annandale, East Coast Demerara (ECD) lad, Johiem Peters.
The inquiry has so far shown that on July 10, 2022, at around 10:30hrs, Peters was arrested in connection to an alleged robbery under arms in which he was recognised as one of the attackers.
Two of Peters’ friends (names withheld by police) were also arrested. As the trio was seated on the prisoners’ bench, Peters asked one of them for a cigarette lighter and same was given to him.
The other prisoner admitted to seeing when Peters’ friend gave him the cigarette lighter but claimed that he only heard Peters screaming when he was alone in the cell.
The police officer on duty at the Vigilance Police Station rushed to the cell and removed Peters while his shirt was still on fire.
Peters, whom the EMTs subsequently questioned, claimed that he had been smoking in the lockups when fell asleep and the cigarette caught on his shirt.
In a video currently being circulated on social media, Peters was heard saying that he beaten and forced to tell EMTs that he caused the fire.
The investigation is ongoing.
