Region Six Commander Shivpersaud Bacchus this afternoon has confirmed that an investigation is underway into both the violent domestic abuse allegations made by Joanna Ramoutar and the alleged misconduct of a police officer attached to the New Amsterdam Police Station.
The suspect in the matter, Karran Sukhan, owner of Red Scorpion Car Rental is currently on the run. According to Commander Bacchus, the Guyana Police Force is actively pursuing leads to locate him. Bacchus also noted that disciplinary action will be taken against Officer Trotman, who reportedly made insensitive and inappropriate remarks to the survivor during her attempt to seek protection.
The development follows a heart-wrenching public plea made on Facebook by Ramoutar, a mother of two, who detailed six years of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse at the hands of Sukhan. Her message has triggered a wave of public outrage and renewed calls for stronger police accountability in cases of domestic violence.
In her statement, Ramoutar said, “For the past six years, I have been trapped in an abusive and violent relationship. Out of fear for my life, I kept it hidden from everyone—my family, my friends—until last weekend, when my family finally helped me escape.”
Ramoutar described a pattern of escalating abuse since 2019, including beatings, forced sexual encounters, and threats to her life and the lives of her children. She recounted multiple violent episodes, such as being kicked in the stomach, beaten with household items, tied by the neck, and even attacked with a knife and cutlass just days ago—an incident that left her body covered in bruises and scars.
The survivor also claimed that Sukhan once threatened to poison and kill her and her children, even pulling a knife on their two-year-old son.
In one of the most alarming aspects of her account, Ramoutar alleged that when she reported the abuse, she was met not with compassion but contempt. She said Officer Trotman told her, “You must have enjoyed the licks,” implying that her years of suffering were somehow voluntary.
Her emotional plea concluded with a desperate appeal for help: “Please, I am begging for help. I wasn’t just abused—I was tortured, controlled, and dehumanized. I fear for my life and for the lives of my two innocent children.”
As the investigation continues, women’s rights advocates and civil society groups have called on the authorities to ensure the safety of Ramoutar and her children, apprehend the suspect swiftly, and hold the officer accountable for further victimizing a survivor seeking help.
This case has reignited public concerns about the treatment of domestic violence survivors and the apparent culture of insensitivity within some ranks of the police force.
