A man who was subjected to electric shock and other forms of torture by police officers at the Arima Police Station has been awarded $95,000 in damages.
Justice Vashiest Kokaram delivered a judgment yesterday in favour of Marvin Mitchell on completion of the case in the San Fernando Civil Court. Mitchell, of O'Meara Road, Printeryville, Arima, filed the unlawful arrest and detention, assault and battery lawsuit two years ago against the attorney general. This would have been a matter Anand Ramlogan was working on before he was appointed Attorney General. The other attorney in the matter was Cindy Bhagwandeen. Mitchell testified he was tortured and beaten during his 24-hour detention at the police station.
On his return home from work on March 27, 2008, he was arrested and taken to the police station. He was accused of breaking into a woman's house. Mitchell said he was placed in a cell where he was ordered to squat naked. The following morning, he said, he was taken to another room where he was slapped an officer. In a fit of rage, Mitchell said, another officer stood on the table and violently stomped on his penis. He said a cup of hot tea also was thrown in his face.
In another room, with his hands handcuffed behind his back, he said, one of the officers plugged a cord into an outlet and placed the live end of the wire on his temple. He added: "I was severely shocked and temporarily unable to see. I remember falling to the ground and being unable to control my saliva. One of the officers shouted 'don't let that fall out of your mouth on the floor, suck it back up.'
Mitchell said he was repeatedly shocked about the neck, temple and chest by the officer. He said the torture, he said, only stopped when another officer informed them that people were hearing his screams outside.