Ramjattan on the side of the Police as probe continues into seawall shooting incident

The Security Minister said he intends to support his Policemen until such time that they are proven to have done something wrong, the same way that criminals are seen as innocent until proven guilty. 

Ramjattan on the side of the Police as probe continues into seawall shooting incident

Even as the Government has ordered an inquest into the shooting deaths of three suspected bandits by the police along the seawall, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan has said that he believes the Police’s version of the unfolding incident and subsequent deaths.

The Security Minister said he intends to support his Policemen until such time that they are proven to have done something wrong, the same way that criminals are seen as innocent until proven guilty.

“I am on the side of the Police Commissioner. I believe his version of what transpired,” the Minister told reporters Tuesday morning.
He said notwithstanding this personal conviction, he will ensure that a full investigation and accompany Coroner’s Inquest is conducted.
He said the Police is currently awaiting statements from the three eyewitness, before it sends the investigation file to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Ramjattan said he has full confidence in the credibility and reliability of the police and the fact that there are questions to be asked about the report of one eyewitness, that has led him to be on the side of the Police.
“Any good responsibility government will attach some credibility and reliability on police investigations unless there is something so badly done.”
The Minister said the inquest will be good for uncovering the truth and will give eyewitnesses an opportunity to come forward and tell their story without fear.
“I am not clear on all the circumstances and that is what we will get out of the coroner’s inquest… I will support my policemen until such time that they are proven to have done something wrong.”
Just after the shooting, the Police in a statement said men were killed during an exchange of gunfire after they trailed a customer who had just exited a city bank with a large sum of cash and attempted to carry out a robbery on the seawalls.
But family members have challenged the Police report with claims that the men were executed by the Police.
An eyewitness who has since provided a written statement to the Police, told reporters that he was working on a rooftop when he saw one of the three men being shot by Police after he had already come out of his car and was beaten by the same Police.

Since then, the Police Force has probed his claims and now says he was never on the rooftop of the building that was under construction. Two other witnesses have since come forward with their version of what took place also contradicting the Police Force’s story.

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