A Lusignan inmate who was admitted to the penitentiary on February 1, 2021 died on Friday after a fellow inmate lashed him with a brick wrapped in a towel while he was asleep on Thursday.
The deceased has been identified as 40-year-old Victor Soomaru of Gordon Street, Kitty. Soomaru was arrested for trafficking 1.959 grams of cannabis. He was on remand.
According to the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) at about 21:05hrs an alarm was raised by prisoners housed in Unit #1 at the Lusignan Prison (Quarantine Section).
The Officers on duty responded and it was reported that Soomaru was lashed with a piece of brick wrapped in a towel while he was asleep by another remanded prisoner.
The injured man was immediately taken out of the unit and escorted to the Prison Infirmary where he was seen by the medical personnel on duty and given the necessary medical attention.
He was later referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation for further medical treatment and was seen and examined by a doctor on duty.
The GPS reported that Soomaru died at about 10:30h this morning while receiving medical attention. Soomaru was housed in Unit # 1 along with three other prisoners including the alleged accused.
The suspect has since been relocated.
Soomaru’s mother has been informed of the incident by Officer-in-Charge of the Lusignan Prison. His body has been taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation mortuary and is awaiting a post-mortem examination.
Investigations are ongoing.