Police Prosecutor, Corporal Hemchand Sukhna is now living in fear that gunmen would return to harm him and his family.
Two armed men riddled the Prosecutor’s house with bullets on Sunday last as he was sitting in a shed in front of his yard at Second Street, Craig, East Bank Demerara with his wife and his nephew. The incident occurred at around 21:45hrs.
Police suspect that the gun attack may have stemmed from one of the cases he prosecuted. The Prosecutor, during an interview with the News Room on Friday, recounted the harrowing ordeal and debunked reports that he was involved in corrupted practices.
The 39-year-old prosecutor said he is thankful that he and his family managed to escape alive.
“I told my family to drop on the ground, to take cover. I observed two males outside, they had on these hoodies, they were standing and facing towards my premises, one had a rifle and one had a small handgun and [they] started to discharge rounds,” the Prosecutor recounted.
The shooting lasted for a couple of seconds; after the gunmen escaped, the Prosecutor said he observed bullet holes in the walls of his house, his fence and his minibus was also damaged.
The incident was captured on CCTV cameras.
“As a police you see things, but when things like these happen it leaves you in a state that anybody I prosecute can come shoot up at my house,” the cop said.
He further debunked reports by a media outlet that he was involved in corrupt practices which might have led to the shooting.
“[That media house] is peddling a whole set of crazy stuff about me…if [that media house] wants an accurate reflection of my job here, [they] can come to the court and get the records of conviction,” the Prosecutor stated.
Corporal Hemchand Sukhna has been a prosecutor for the past four years but joined the police force 20 years ago. The News Room understands that the Prosecutor is stationed at the Diamond Magistrate’s Court.
When questioned by the News Room on a possible motive behind the shooting the Prosecutor said: “I wouldn’t divulge any name, but I would have divulged to the Commander a certain person who was released from prison the other day which I would have prosecuted and he would have served three years.”
Meanwhile, Regional Commander Senior Superintendent Mahendra Siwnarine told the News Room police suspect the shooting is linked to a matter before the court or a matter that was prosecuted by Sukha.
The Commander also revealed that police are also looking at persons who were recently released from prison and were prosecuted by Sukhna.
The Commander said no formal decision was made to offer protection to the Prosecutor and his family but he noted that there is regular police patrol in the area.
Police recovered two .40 spent shells and five .22 spent shells from the scene of the shooting.
