Guyana Police Force Ordered To Pay Family $10.5M In Lawsuit Over Unlawful Arrest And Detention

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) was ordered by Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry to pay $10.5 million in damages after an unlawful arrest and detainment of a family. 

The court found that fundamental rights by Articles 139(1), 141 and 142 of the constitution were violated and the case therefore was ‘unjustified’ by the police. 

As a result, no charges were laid against the family of three identified as Storm Fausette, five year old Shakeif Fausette, and Darryl Medas. As a result of the wrongful arrest, they pursued damages of over $10m for “false imprisonment, wrongful deprivation of liberty, unlawful deprivation of property, inhuman and degrading punishment.”

The filing was made against Former Attorney General, the Commissioner of Police, and Officer Semple. Storm in his affidavit to support his claim, on January 30, 2018, stated that while on his way home with his sons, he was stopped by police who searched them while the five-year-old son remained in the car. His cell phone was seized and taken to the Diamond Police Station lock-up. 

The officer proceeded to tell them that it was a regular stop and search by the police. “We are de police, and we could search ya house” and “we got orders from the bigger ones to search this house.”

The family was also granted a sum of $250,000 for additional damages that must be paid by November 18, 202