Bakr, wife win case

The couple was awarded compensation which will be assessed by a High Court Master.

Justice Carol Gobin yesterday struck out the State’s defence as they failed to provide evidence to substantiate their claim that there was another vehicle bearing the same registration number. Bakr and Ramnarine-Bakr yesterday hailed the court’s decision as a win for everyone who believes they have been victimised by the police.

They were represented by attorneys Om Lalla and Dereck Balliram. Bakr urged persons to not tolerate police harassment by taking legal action or filing complaints with the Police Complaints Authority.

“It shows that something is wrong with the system...It sends a message to the authorities that there is a way to do things and the police cannot victimise people or not allow them their rights,” Ramnarine- Bakr said after the court’s ruling. The couple said their ordeal was ‘embarrassing.’ They were heading east along Churchill-Roosevelt Highway around 5.30 p.m on February 24, 2016, when, in the vicinity of Beetham Gardens, they were stopped by the police.

He was told to get out of his van and handcuffed after which they were taken to the Besson Street station, where they were eventually told that Bakr’s van was reportedly stolen as there was another vehicle with the same number plate according to their reports. For almost two hours, neither husband nor wife was told the reason for their arrest.

They were also not given the opportunity to contact an attorney in accordance with established police procedures.

Eventually, Ramnarine-Bakr was allowed to retrieve the certified copy for the vehicle and she was allowed to leave the station while Bakr was moved to Central Police Station, on St Vincent Street, Port of Spain, and released around midnight.