Damages in the sum of $60,000 was awarded to a 29-year-old labourer after the State conceded that police officers were wrong to arrest, detain and charge him. Yesterday Master Patricia Sobion awarded damages to Akil Crawford in the Hall of Justice after the State consented to judgment being entered in Crawford's favour.
Represented by attorney Kevin Ratiram, Crawford sued the State for wrongful arrest, false imprisonment and malicious prosecution.According to court documents, on August 14, 2009, Crawford was at his girlfriend's house in Hickling Village, Siparia Road, Fyzabad, when several officers arrived.
The officers asked him if he was Akil West and if he knew Teffari Clarke. He told them "No." The officers then informed Crawford that Akil West had robbed Clarke.Despite his protest that he was not West, Crawford was taken to the Marabella Police Station. He met PC Kemraj Sahadeo who asked him about the robbery. Crawford again denied knowing anything about it or that he was West.
According to court documents, Crawford asked to be placed on an identification parade, but Sahadeo said he was sure that he was the man referred to by the victim.
Crawford was never identified by the victim. Sahadeo subsequently charged Crawford, naming him as Akil West, alleging that he and another man, armed with firearms, robbed Clarke of a $8,000 gold chain on August 7, 2009.
When Crawford appeared in court, his attorney Ratiram informed the magistrate that his client's name was not Akil West.The magistrate then asked the victim if Crawford was one of the men who robbed him and he said he was not.The magistrate granted Crawford bail and adjourned the matter to the next day. However, Crawford was unable to access bail and spent the night at Remand Yard prison where he was kept in a small, overcrowded, filthy cell, with nothing to sleep on.The next day the trial started and the victim testified that Crawford did not rob him. Crawford was subsequently discharged.
