Bi-racial couple ridiculed by cops

THE State refused to challenge an allegation by a couple, one of East Indian descent and the other of African descent, that police officers ridiculed them about being together before unlawfully arresting them. Yesterday, Justice Nolan Bureaux ordered that monetary damages be assessed by a Master of the High Court for Stanley Bissoon and his girlfriend Leslie-Ann Bobb, of La Brea.

Bureaux granted several declarations that the arrest and detention of Bissoon was illegal and unconstitutional. Bissoon filed a motion for wrongful arrest on February 24, 2005. He stated that two policemen pointed guns at him in front of KFC in Point Fortin and took him to a nearby police station. The motion stated that Bissoon was taken by policemen to girlfriend Bobb’s home in Vance River. The two stated in their motion that one of the policemen, in Bissoon’s presence, told Bobb: “Dat is the kinda short man ah nice gyul like you push yourself wid? Yuh lettin down yuh race man.” The policeman’s language was allegedly laced with obscenities.

Bobb’s home was searched but nothing illegal was found. No charges were preferred by the policemen against Bissoon or Bobb. The State never responded to the lawsuit and attorney Narendra Lallbeharry filed a summons to take up judgment. Yesterday was the hearing of the summons before Bureaux. Attorney Karen Fournillieu represented the State. Bureau granted the reliefs sought — that the arrest and search were illegal. A master of the High Court will assess the monetary damages and legal costs the State would have to pay to Bissoon and Bobb.