As a result of the serious nature of the investigation into the death of 11-year-old Adriana Younge, Assistant Commissioner Khalid Mandall remains on administrative leave. Mandall is the former Region Three commander, under whose leadership the probe became murky by a misleading statement to the press and many questionable actions taken in the initial search of the child.
The Guyana Standard also understands that a “civilian employee”, whom the police force has not identified, and police ranks (also not identified) were also sent on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. The civilian staffer, who was also sent on administrative leave, is the person who was on duty at the command centre on the day in question, and she has admitted to detectives that she entered the wrong date whilst checking the camera system located within the vicinity of the Double Day Hotel.
The force said that she had been tasked to ascertain whether or not Adriana Younge had left the above place. As a consequence of her error, she misled the ranks by reporting that she observed a female who fit the description of Adriana Younge, leaving the hotel with a male.
The rest of the police statement reads: “Investigations have also revealed that there was a sergeant from the Special Constabulary Unit who misled her colleagues when she claimed that she was on duty in the Region’s Operation Room, and a male anonymous caller informed her that Adriana Younge was seen leaving the above hotel after she joined a black (Raum) motor vehicle.
“In an effort to investigate the origin of the information about this vehicle, investigators managed to obtain the call information and arrested the so-called male anonymous caller, and it turned out to be that the caller is well acquainted with the special constabulary rank.
“He also informed detectives that he and the female spoke for 10 minutes during which he told her that he was standing in front of the hotel when he overheard persons talking about the girl leaving in a black Raum, hence, he related the said information to the special sergeant. The call log also confirmed the duration of the phone call as related by this individual.
“Finally, two other ranks, a Corporal and a Constable, were relieved of their duties due to neglect. The probe continues.”
