THE POLICE yesterday said arrest warrants would be issued for persons, including senior management personnel at the SuperPlus supermarket in Mandeville, Manchester, who have been accused of involvement in the beating of two young men employed to the store.
Michael Smith, 18 years-old of Knockpatrick, and Renardo Dawes, 20, of New Green, both in the parish, remained in the Mandeville Regional Hospital yesterday, receiving treatment for wounds inflicted during the alleged assault.
"The persons who did it will be arrested because nobody is above the law," Sergeant Rovan Salmon, Constabulary Communication Network Liaison Officer for Manchester, told The Gleaner yesterday.
ENOUGH EVIDENCE
Another senior police officer familiar with the case told The Gleaner that preliminary investigations had been concluded and that there was enough evidence to issue the warrants for the persons accused of the beating.
He said those to be arrested will be charged with "abduction, assault, causing grievous bodily harm and possible wounding with intent to murder".
Information reaching The Gleaner is that both Smith and Dawes were tied with rope and repeatedly hit with a shovel and a pick axe. Dawes is said to be suffering from a spinal injury that has caused a swelling. He is currently unable to walk.
Smith was reportedly rushed to surgery to have two broken ribs mended. He also received chest injuries.
A relative of one of the victims said he was taken from the supermarket, just before closing time, put in a van and taken to a house. He was then tied up and beaten.
On Tuesday Wayne Chen, chief executive officer of SuperPlus Stores, said he was unaware of the incident and that an internal investigation would be launched into the matter.
