The State has to pay a La Romaine resident over $123,000 in damages for being beaten and taunted by policemen while falsely imprisoned at the San Fernando and Marabella Police Stations for five days.As a consequence of that incident, Kevin Ravello was also charged with common assault and robbery with violence, but to date those charges are still pending in the San Fernando Magistrates' Court.Justice James Aboud ordered Attorney General Anand Ramlogan to pay the damages and $22,300 in legal costs after ruling in Ravello's favour.
Through his attorney, Cindy Bhagwandeen instructed by Kent Samlal, Ravello filed the lawsuit in the San Fernando High Court for wrongful arrest, assault and false imprisonment.In the documents, Ravello, 34, said on March 15, 2006 he was arrested at his home and taken to the police station where he was detained for five days.Ravello said he was kept in a dirty, urine-soaked cell and was not informed of his right to an attorney.He claimed he was harassed, ridiculed, slapped, struck on the head and violently shoved against the walls of the cell by certain police officers.
The day after he was detained he was taken to the Marabella Police Station for an identification parade, but the following day he was informed that the parade was called off because he insisted on having his attorney present. He was taken back to the San Fernando Police Station where, he said, a policeman told him to "give the girl and them a piece of money to call off this case."He said another policeman told him if he wanted bail and to be released from jail he had to sign three pages, which he did.Ravello said he was subsequently charged with common assault.However, he was denied bail even after a Justice of Peace prepared the necessary documents.
After numerous requests by his lawyer he was eventually taken before a magistrate who read two charges against him-common assault and robbery with violence. He was granted $65,000 bail. Those matters are still pending.Justice Aboud ordered the State to pay damages in the sum of $7,500 on the assault claim, $60,000 on the false imprisonment claim, $12,000 on the exemplary damages, with interest at the rate of six per cent per annum from November 24, 2008 to July 1, 2011 and thereafter at the rate of 12 per cent per annum.He ordered a stay of execution for 28 days.