An unjustified delay by police in closing their investigation against a PH taxi driver suspected of robbery has cost taxpayers almost $80,000.
Delivering a 15-page judgement at the Hall of Justice in Port-of-Spain, on Friday, High Court Judge Devindra Rampersad ordered the State to pay $60,000 in compensation to Darryl Ramsamooj for the two and half days he was in custody before he was eventually cleared of any wrongdoing.
According to the evidence presented in the case, Ramsamooj was arrested by police officers from the Siparia Police Station on April 15, 2016.
Ramsamooj was placed in a holding cell in the station until he eventually was asked to participate in an identification parade on April 17.
The robbery victim did not identify Ramsamooj as his attacker.
In defence of the claim, the police officer responsible for the investigation claimed that the delay in the identification parade was due to the fact that she had difficulties contacting the victim.
In his judgement, Rampersad stated that he had doubts about the excuse given by the officer.
“The claimant’s liberty was at stake. He was being detained in deplorable conditions and there is no reason why he should be kept there for any longer than would have been reasonably necessary for her to have secured contact with the virtual complainant,” Rampersad said, as he noted that 24 hours would have been a reasonable time to complete the investigation.
Rampersad also noted that even after Ramsamooj was cleared he was kept at the station for five hours before his vehicle was released and he was allowed to leave.
As part of the judgement, Rampersad made general comments over the prevalence of such incidents.
“The court sees the treatment of a citizen of the Republic of T&T in such an uncivilised manner and with such almost barbaric conditions as being nothing but a willful neglect of basic human rights, especially in light of the presumption of innocence,” Rampersad said.
In addition to the compensation awarded to Ramsamooj, the State was also ordered to pay the $16,854 in legal costs he incurred in bringing the lawsuit.
Ramsamooj was represented by Abdel Mohammed, while Stefan Jaikaran and Sasha Sukram represented the State.