Derek Achong
The State has been ordered to pay over $700,000 in compensation to a man from Cocorite, who was remanded for 18 months after being falsely accused of being in possession of a bullet proof vest to assist a gang.
High Court Judge Robin Mohammed ordered the compensation for Kern Parkinson after upholding his malicious prosecution case earlier this month.
The lawsuit stemmed from Parkinson's arrest on November 12, 2015.
Police officers claimed that they executed a search warrant at Parkinson's Upper Freedom Street, Cocorite, home and found a quantity of marijuana in a cigarette box and a bullet proof vest under a bed.
In his lawsuit, Parkinson claimed that the officers demolished a galvanised fence to enter his property and did not show a search warrant.
He admitted that the officers found the marijuana but denied being in possession of the bullet proof vest, which he claimed the officers only showed him after he was arrested and placed in a police vehicle.
Parkinson was charged for marijuana possession and for possession of a bullet proof vest for the benefit of a gang or gang member.
He spent 18 months on remand before he was eventually granted bail in 2017.
He pleaded guilty to marijuana possession and was reprimanded and discharged. He contested the charge under the Anti-Gang Act and it was eventually discontinued by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in May 2018.
In determining the case, Justice Mohammed found that Parkinson was a credible and straightforward witness.
"While the Defendant highlighted several inconsistencies and improbabilities in his evidence, I do not find them material or to impugn his overall credibility," he said.
He found the evidence of the three police officers to be unreliable and partially fabricated.
"In stark contrast, I found the evidence of the Defendant's witnesses to be fraught with inconsistencies, evasions, and a troubling lack of candour," Justice Mohammed said, as he noted that crucial evidence such as the search warrant was not disclosed in the case.
Ruling that the officers did not have reasonable or probable cause to charge Parkinson for the gang offence, Justice Mohammed pointed out that the officers failed to provide evidence on the "information for confidential informants" they were relying on to link Parkinson to gang-related activity.
He inferred malice based on the conduct of the officers.
Noting that the offence was non-bailable at the time, Justice Mohammed said: "This fact, combined with the complete lack of evidence, strongly suggests that the charge was not laid to secure justice, but as a tool of oppression."
Justice Mohammed ordered $525,000 in general damages to compensate Parkinson for his loss of liberty and the extreme emotional distress and humiliation he endured.
"This award takes into account the serious nature of the charge, the lengthy 18-month period of incarceration in deplorable conditions, the loss of his job, the trauma inflicted on his family, and the malicious and oppressive manner in which he was treated," Justice Mohammed said.
He ordered $75,000 in exemplary damages to punish the State for the oppressive, arbitrary, and unconstitutional conduct of its servants.
The State was also ordered to pay $85,941.78 in interest and $85,445 in legal costs.
Parkinson was represented by Criston J Williams, of Quantum Legal, and Celeste St Louis.
The Office of the Attorney General was represented by Natoya Moore, and Karissa Singh.
