GDF ranks charged for rape-robbery of Essequibo couple

The two dishonoured Guyana Defence Force (GDF) ranks who were implicated in a rape and robbery on the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) have been charged and are expected to make their appearance at the Suddie Magistrate’s Court today.
Twenty-two-year-old Rawlston Reid, of Doch Four Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara (ECD), and Isaiah Rawlins, 21, of Wisroc, Linden, have already been dismissed from the Defence Force.
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 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. At the Police Station, the couple were 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 were 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.