Trinidad and Tobago High Court awards $100,000 for unlawful arrest

The High Court has awarded Jevon Craig $100,000 in damages after ruling that his arrest and subsequent 66-hour detention during a robbery investigation were unlawful. Justice Sherlanne Pierre ruled in favor of Craig in his claim against the Office of the Attorney General for unlawful arrest and false imprisonment.

Craig was arrested on August 24, 2023, based on a description of an alleged robber and the nickname “Tallo.” During the trial, the arresting officer, PC Justin Durity, admitted under cross-examination that he had not reviewed the original report or victim statements prior to the arrest. While police executed a search warrant at Craig’s Carapo home, no illegal items were discovered.

Craig remained in custody until August 27, being released without charge. The court noted that his substantive interview did not occur until two days after his initial arrest. The $100,000 award includes an uplift for aggravated damages, plus annual interest of 2.5 per cent from the date the claim was served.