PARAMARIBO--Police in District Nickerie have arrested no fewer than fifteen prison guards in connection with the death of an escaped detainee. They face charges related to aggravated assault.
No specific details have been released yet, but their arrests are related to the death of Dion Griffith who had escaped from Hazard penitentiary, the prison in Nickerie, on March 24. The young man was caught the day after and returned to his cell, but the next day his dead body was brought into the Mungra Medical Centre in the District. A pathologist reported that there were marks of assault all over his body. As the investigation progresses, authorities have still not released the body to the family for burial.
The only official statement in this case has so far come from Nickerie Police Commander Retitia Forster, who has told journalists that “there is movement in the investigation” that is being carried out by the Capital Crimes department.
At first authorities put some officials at the prison on non-active duty. Then last week, five prison guards were arrested. On Saturday four more arrests were made. On Sunday police arrested six more, taking the total to 15.
