The two former ranks of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) who are accused of raping an Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) woman in the presence of her boyfriend last weekend at the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground, were granted bail when they appeared at the Suddie Magistrate’s Court.
Rawlston Reid, 22, of Dutch Four Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara; and Isaiah Rawlins, 21, of Wisroc, Linden, were granted bail in the sum of $300,000 each by Magistrate Esther Sam.
The men were also accused of robbing the rape victim’s boyfriend on the day in question.
Upon granting the men bail, the Magistrate ordered them to report to the Anna Regina Police Station on a daily basis. The men were also ordered to stay more than 200 feet away from the victims.
Guyana Times understands that the rape victim is expected to come to Georgetown to get counselling today.
It was reported that the female victim and her boyfriend were at the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground, which is close to the GDF base, for an event and at about 23:30h, as they were enjoying an evening together, the two ranks attacked them.
The soldiers reportedly dealt the young man several blows about his body, took away his money and gold chain, and demanded that his girlfriend have sex with them or else they would rape him.
At first, this demand was shut down, but the two ranks severely beat the young man. They then allegedly took turns raping the woman as she wept bitterly and asked them to stop.
The young man had no choice but to watch his girlfriend being sexually assaulted. After the ordeal, the young couple reported the matter to the Police station. At the Police station, the couple was told that there were no ranks available to search the area.
Family members then took it upon themselves to look for the two perpetrators. Upon seeing the angry mob of residents, the two men escaped. The couple was taken to hospital where the young lady was admitted. The Police subsequently took statements from the two traumatised young people and an investigation was launched.
An identification parade was done on Monday afternoon at the Suddie Police Station and the two perpetrators were positively identified by the victims. Guyana Times was told that while the ID parade was in progress, colleagues of the implicated ranks were heard shouting derogatory remarks towards the victims.
The young male victim is an acquaintance of both ranks.
