“I fear he’ll kill us” – mother of 2 breaks silence on 6 years of domestic violence

…team dispatched to aid woman after Police allegedly failed to act

When Joanna Ramoutar entered into a romantic relationship in October 2018, she never dreamed she would one day be speaking out about an abusive relationship she endured for six years.
However, on Thursday, she broke her silence and revealed the struggles she has faced.

Just two days shy of Father’s Day, Ramoutar alleged that her boyfriend, Karran Sukhan, is responsible for years of abuse.
Despite filing a report with the police five days ago, she claims that nothing has been done about the matter. She also alleges that Sukhan is currently hiding and that neither she nor her children can leave the house.
According to Ramoutar, her nightmare began shortly after the relationship started.
“In October 2018, I began a relationship with Karran Sukhan, the owner of Red Scorpion Car Rental. By March 2019, the abuse had started. First with slaps, then escalating to brutal, life-threatening violence. He kicked me in the stomach, stomped on my head, and beat me repeatedly. Over the years, the violence only worsened.”
In fact, she relayed that just last Friday, after telling him she wanted to leave the relationship, he attacked her violently.
“Last Friday, after I told him I wanted to leave, he attacked me again — this time with a knife and a cutlass. My body is now covered in scars and bruises. He even pulled a knife on our two-year-old son and threatened to poison and kill all of us.”
Ramoutar said even Sukhan’s grandmother had witnessed the abuse during the time of their relationship.
“His own grandmother witnessed the abuse on multiple occasions. When she tried to intervene, he would say, ‘She’s my wife. I can do whatever I want to her.’ That would only make things worse.”
The violence, she said, extended far beyond the physical. She mentioned that he tortured her emotionally and mentally.
He called her degrading names, told her that she was worthless, and forced her into obedience. She stated that life felt like slavery, as it was demanded of her to rub lotion on his body, put toothpaste on his toothbrush, and do everything exactly as he wanted — or else she would face punishment.
In one horrific instance, she fell asleep and missed his call.
“I answered on the second call. He was calling me to open the door, which I did as soon as I picked up. He kicked me in my stomach, and I flew into the house and hurt myself.”
She also alleges that a few months after giving birth, Sukhan made her roll on hot concrete.
“He slapped me while I was holding our one-month-old baby, causing the child to hit his head.
He forced me to kneel with my hands in the air while he sat with his feet on my shoulders, pulling my hair and cuffing me.”
She said Sukhan would hit her with hoses and pelt her with anything he could get his hands on — plates, cups, phones, shoes — whenever something displeased him.
This included not finishing dinner before he got home, asking him to stop cheating, or simply not wanting to have sex.
Ramoutar also highlighted that one time during their relationship, he tied a wire around her neck, fastened it to a grill, and tried to pull her off of her bed, threatening to kill her — all while she was pregnant.
She says he isolated her, refused to help with the children, and spent most of his time attending to his own affairs — only to return home and continue tormenting her.
The most disheartening part of the whole tragedy, she said, is the reaction from the police, which showed no empathy.
“…Officer [name withheld] from the New Amsterdam Police Station told me I must have ‘enjoyed the licks’ since I stayed so long. What am I supposed to do when even the police blame me instead of protecting me? I stayed quiet out of fear. Now I’m speaking up, and I’m still being silenced by neglect, blame, and inaction. Please, I am begging for help.”
She described the emotional toll the situation has taken on her.
“I am terrified that if action isn’t taken soon, he will make good on his threats. I fear for my life and for the lives of my two innocent children.
Please, if you can help, help us now.”

Ministry intervenes
Meanwhile, on Thursday, the Human Services and Social Security Ministry confirmed that upon hearing about the situation, they immediately dispatched a specialized team from the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Policy Unit (SO&DVPU) to intervene and provide support.
The ministry also expressed that its priority is to ensure the victim receives comprehensive and compassionate care.
They reaffirmed their commitment to addressing all reported cases of domestic violence and pledged to continue working tirelessly to provide assistance and foster a safer society for all.
Meanwhile, police in Region Six have since confirmed that they are investigating the matter.