The Defence Force is refusing to investigate claims by a 24-year-old Cuban woman that she was raped and impregnated by one of its officers while at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre.
The RBDF says its not their job to investigate such claims. Such probes would have to be carried out by Immigration officials, are responsible for the Detention Centre. The Defence Force says they only providing security.
This is an odd response considering the fact that the Defence Force has just completed an investigation into claims its officers beat male Cuban detainees at the centre in June.
A member of Florida watchdog group The Democracy Movement made the rape claim at a press conference in Miami last week.
At the press conference in Miami, activist Jesus Alexis told the press: “Today I am going to give the news. A young woman was raped. ”
Mr Alexis gave the name of her rapist, which has been withheld by local mediai.
He said the officer responsible was “apparently heading one of the beatings. His name is very well known throughout the detainees there.
“I don’t want the government to say that she was impregnated in Cuba, that is impossible. She only has been there four days and she has about three months of pregnancy.
“How can they have a sexual relationship when the duty of the guards is to protect the detainees? Their responsibility is to protect them, not rape them.”
via Defence Force will not investigate rape claim – despite having probed beatings | The Tribune.
