Almost two months have passed since 57-year-old pedal cyclist Ramlackhan succumbed to his injuries at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) after being struck by an intoxicated Guyana Defence Force (GDF) rank but to date, no charges have been laid against the military official.
C Division Commander, Senior Superintendent Calvin Brutus
Commander of C Division (East Coast Demerara), Senior Superintendent Calvin Brutus on Friday told Guyana Times that the file was sent for legal advice but has not yet been returned to the police.
Three weeks ago, Traffic Chief Linden Isles told Guyana Times that “a complete” file on this matter was already sent to the DPP since, initially, the file had been compiled with information relating to the Army Corporal driving under the influence of alcohol and injuring Ramlackhan, who had been in an unconscious state for weeks.
However, the pedal cyclist succumbed without regaining consciousness and this caused the investigation and charges to be laid to take a different route.
“It was a serious accident that turned into a fatal accident. So at that time [and until now], he was released in the custody of the Army. Now the investigation is continuing because it was a serious accident initially and so we now have to investigate a fatal accident,” the Traffic Chief had told this publication at that time.
He had also stated that the Driving Under the Influence (DUI) charge, as well as others that may be laid against the Army rank, will be done all together in one file that will be sent to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
On May 25 last, Ramlackhan was struck down along the Vryheid’s Lust Railway Embankment Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD), by motorcar PRR 7815 allegedly being driven by the soldier. The severely injured man of Lot 346 Martyrs Ville, Mon Repos, ECD, was at the time towing a friend, who suffered minor injuries.
Reports are the duo was riding along the roadway when they were hit off the bicycle by the vehicle being driven by the GDF rank, who was reportedly under the influence of alcohol.
Ramlackhan was picked up and taken to the GPHC, where he was admitted a patient.
A breathalyser test was conducted on the driver of the vehicle, and it was discovered that his alcohol intake was above the legal limit. While Ramlackhan was in a coma at the GPHC, the soldier, who was allegedly driving the car involved in the accident, was released into the custody of the Army.
“The Joint Services Protocol dictates that we hand him over to his superiors pending the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). With regards to Police having custody of Joint Services ranks, it is dependent on the category of crime. For instance, if it is murder or so, they will stay in our [GPF] custody. If it is a lesser category, we hand them over to their respective agency and they will take responsibility to bring them back whenever is needed; or if advice is to charge, they will make them available and bring them so,” Commander Brutus had also stated at that time.
