Police hunting GDF rank accused of raping teen in 2020

Police are on the hunt for a rank of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) who allegedly raped a girl under the age of 16 years in September 2020. The act was committed in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica).
Police on Thursday said that ranks in the division, on December 25, 2021, received a report of an alleged rape which reportedly occurred on September 17, 2020.
The Police have said that on the day in question, the victim reported that the suspect took her into a house, where he committed the act. In addition, she stated that the suspect continued calling her mobile phone, inviting her out.
However, the frustrated young lady decided to confide in her mother what had transpired between herself and the suspect, and her mother took her to the Police Station, where a report was made.
Efforts are presently being made to arrest the suspect as investigations continue.
Back in February 2021, some members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) stationed at Mabaruma, North West District, Region One (Barima-Waini) were arrested for an allegation of rape.
The charges against four of them were dismissed following the completion of a Board of Inquiry (BoI) that was established to investigate the rape allegation. However, the other ranks who were implicated are facing disciplinary action.
“The Board of Inquiry convened to investigate the circumstances which led to an allegation of rape being levelled against Guyana Defence Force ranks in Mabaruma, Region One, has led to disciplinary actions taken against two officers and four other ranks,” the Force had stated.
Further, it was stated that the BoI found that the ranks breached operational orders while deployed on border duty. “Four of these ranks have since been dismissed, and the disciplinary process is ongoing against the others,” the GDF added.
The Force also reported that three of the dismissed soldiers were charged, and appeared in court in relation to the rape allegation. Further action against the fourth, however, is awaiting the recommendation of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Back in October 2018, two soldiers – Rawlston Reid, 22, of Dochfour Housing Scheme, and Isaiah Rawlins, 21, of Wisroc, Linden – allegedly raped a 26-year-old female in Essequibo, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).
It was reported that on October 13, 2018, the two soldiers, who were placed on $300,000 bail each when they appeared in court, had forced sex with the woman.
The woman was at the time with her boyfriend at a community centre ground eating chips when they were approached by the soldiers, who were known to them.
The couple were ordered to have sex for the soldiers to see, and when they refused, they were beaten and robbed. The woman’s boyfriend was forced to watch the entire ordeal before they stripped him of his gold chains worth $180,000.
The men have since been dismissed from the military.