SOCU Deputy Commissioner Karimbaksh accused of rape and firearm threat against female officer

Deputy Commissioner Fazil Karimbaksh faces allegations of rape and threatening behaviour filed by a female Police Inspector. A probe team has been established.

Senior Guyana Police officer faces rape and threatening behaviour allegations

Deputy Commissioner Fazil Karimbaksh, head of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), has been accused of rape and threatening behaviour with a firearm allegedly directed at a female Police Inspector within the Guyana Police Force, newsroom.gy reports.

According to sources who spoke to newsroom.gy, the Inspector recently filed a formal report containing two counts of rape and one count of threatening behaviour. One of the alleged rape incidents is said to have occurred in Guyana; the other took place outside the jurisdiction. The female officer has since been transferred at her own request.

The Guyana Police Force has not issued an official statement on the matter. Home Affairs Minister Oneidge Walrond, however, confirmed that Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken informed her a team has been established to investigate the allegations.

Speaking on the Starting Point podcast, Walrond said formal proceedings — including a confrontation between the parties — would follow, after which any necessary disciplinary measures would be taken.

Walrond added that it is her personal view that Karimbaksh should be placed on administrative leave for the duration of the investigation.

"It is my view, and I hold this strong view, that he should be sent on administrative leave pending the investigation," she said. "The Police Service Commission ultimately should be the one to do that, barring the fact that it's not currently constituted; I would assume that it's a discussion we need to have between the Commissioner and myself on how we address that."

Under standard procedure, allegations of misconduct or criminal behaviour by a senior rank against a junior rank within the Force are handled by the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR).

Source: Google News GY — Crime