Compensation for a cuff

PC Asceviero of San Fernando CID appeared in the San Fernando Magistrates’ court to give evidence in the case with a plaster under his left eyelid. Gregory Zoma, 32, appeared before Senior Magistrate Margaret Alert charged with assaulting the policeman, possession of marijuana and resisting arrest. He pleaded guilty to all three charges.

The magistrate heard that at about 4 pm on Monday, PC Asceviero was with other police officers on patrol in Tarouba when they stopped a vehicle in which Zoma was a passenger.

They searched the defendant and found a quantity of marijuana.

Court prosecutor Sgt Denzil Alexander said Zoma exited the car and confronted Asceviero.

When the policeman attempted to hold on to Zoma’s hands, the latter cuffed him in the face. Zoma’s attorney Shawn Teekasingh said the defendant had neither mother nor father and eight convictions for marijuana over the past ten years. Magistrate Alert said there are many orphans who will not fight back at a police officer.

“You seem to have a love affair with marijuana,” Magistrate Alert said.

She ordered Zoma to pay a fine of $2,000 for the marijuana possession, $1,000 as a fine for resisting arrest and compensation in the sum of $2,500 or 30 days in jail.