Businessman sues State for $1.5 Million

Jun 25, 2016 News

– Claims police stole $265,000 from his home

Businessman, Roymond Prepont, is suing the State for damages in excess of the $1 million for alleged breach of his constitutional right.
According to court documents, Prepont of Lot 491 Recthdoorzee, La Parfaite Harmonie Housing Scheme, West Bank Demerara, brought the lawsuit against the State after its servants (members of the Guyana Police Force) invaded and searched his home without his consent.
The applicant is contending the police came to his home on June, 7 2016, and searched the property while his 17-year-old daughter was home alone. They allegedly seized and detained $265,000.
Prepont is contending that the search is unlawful and in contravention of the Applicant’s fundamental right and freedom of protection against arbitrary entry as is guaranteed to him by Article 143 of the Constitution of Guyana.
He is therefore suing for damages in excess of $1.5 million for breach of his fundamental right and freedom against arbitrary search and entry; the protection of which is guaranteed to him by Article 143 of the Constitution of Guyana. In the affidavit to support his claim Prepont explained that he was in Linden conducting business when his daughter called him and told him that the police had broken into his home.
“I immediately departed Linden and travelled to my home. When I arrived home, I observed that spikes and lights on the concrete fence were damaged. I thereafter contacted my neighbours and was informed and verily believe that sometime around 5 pm, on the 7th day of June, 2016, a group of policemen visited my home and broke into it.”
He was informed by his neighbours that the said policemen climbed my fence to gain entry into my yard.
I was informed by neighbours and (therefore) believe that while climbing the said concrete fence, the policemen broke spikes and lights on the fence.
I was also informed by my neighbours that once inside the yard; the said policemen broke the padlock on the gate to allow other officers to gain entry into my yard.
The businessman claimed that police also climbed through a window on the veranda to gain access to his house.
“The said officers from the La Grange Police Station then opened the door to my house and I immediately began to conduct a search of my personal belongings. I observed that clothes were taken from the bedroom and were tossed in the walkway. I thereafter discovered that some $265,000 which I had hidden in my daughter’s bedroom in a clothes basket was missing.”
The applicant said that he also observed that the bedrooms of the house were in disarray with furniture, and other items tossed about in a haphazard manner.
The officers from the La Grange Police Station reportedly took photographs and fingerprints from the house and also took statements from Prepont’s neighbours.
The businessman further alleged that the police refused to take statements from them when they visited the police station.
It was based on the advice of a senior officer, Prepont said that he decided to take the matter to court. He therefore visited the law offices of Nandlall and associates where the motion was prepared and filed. The matter is set for July 21 in Constitutional Court.

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