Court Orders $250K Payout in Police Misconduct Case

In a landmark ruling, the High Court has ordered the State to pay more than $250,000 in compensation to Anslem Neptune, a man who was unlawfully arrested, brutally assaulted, and maliciously prosecuted by police officers using fabricated evidence. The judgment was delivered by Justice Nadia Kangaloo, who fully accepted Neptune’s account of the events related to his arrest in January 2017.

An independent eyewitness, Sade Aquila Smith, corroborated Neptune’s account, contradicting the police version of the incident. The State’s defense relied on the testimony of Sergeant Pacheco, who alleged that Neptune was acting suspiciously and was found with ammunition. However, the court deemed Pacheco’s testimony as inconsistent, unreliable, and implausible. Medical reports supported the claim of Neptune’s assault, confirming injuries consistent with a physical attack involving a cricket bat.

In a serious finding of misconduct, the court determined that the ammunition used to charge Neptune was fabricated after the fact to justify his arrest. The judge held that there was no reasonable cause for Neptune’s detention and ruled that the subsequent prosecution was driven by malice.

Justice Kangaloo characterized the case as being at the ‘upper end of seriousness’ due to the heavy-handed and oppressive conduct of the officers. Consequently, Neptune was awarded a total compensation of $254,816.44. Post-ruling, Abdel Mohammed, Neptune’s attorney, stated that the judgment sends a clear message that abuses of police power will not be tolerated.

The ruling serves as a significant vindication for Neptune, who endured years of legal battles following the 2017 incident. It underscores the necessity of law enforcement accountability in Trinidad and Tobago, highlighting the significant implications of unchecked police power.

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