Forty-year-old Victor Soomaru of Gordon Street, Kitty, Georgetown, who was serving time for possession of narcotics, died while receiving medical attention at the Georgetown Public Hospital on Friday. Based on reports received, at about 21:05h on Thursday evening, prisoners housed in Unit 1 (quarantine section) of the penitentiary raised an alarm.
Without hesitation, Prison Officers responded and it was reported that Soomaru was struck to the head with a piece of brick. At the time, the injured prisoner was wrapped in a towel and was asleep with another remanded prisoner in the same cell.
The injured man was taken out of the unit and escorted to the prison infirmary where he was seen and treated by the medical personnel on duty.
However, he was later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital to seek further medical attention. Due to his injuries, he was admitted but succumbed to his injuries the following morning at about 10:30h.
Soomaru was housed in Unit 1 with three other prisoners, including the alleged accused. The Police are currently investigating the matter.
Soomaru was admitted to the correctional facility on February 1, 2021. He was charged for having 1.9 grams of cannabis in his possession.
The relatives of the now dead man were contacted and informed of the incident. His body was taken to the hospital mortuary awaiting a post-mortem. The Guyana Prison Service has related that the suspect in the beating to death of the inmate was relocated.
Charges are expected to be laid shortly.
Earlier in the year, 44-year-old Roger Samuels of La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara (WBD), who was on remand at the same prison on a larceny charge, was found dead in his cell.
It was reported that the Duty Officer at Lusignan Prison was in the process of unlocking the prisoners to wash-up when he observed Samuels lying in a motionless state on his bed.
In light of this, a doctor attached to the penitentiary, Dr Britton, examined Samuels and pronounced him dead. At the time of his incarceration, he shared a cell in Unit 1 with seven other inmates.
He was charged and remanded to prison on January 8, 2021, for allegedly stealing a motor car.
He was reportedly admitted to prison with several injuries to his body which were inflicted by the public as a result of the alleged offence he had committed.
