Cops jailed for assaulting businessman

  Magistrate Judy Latchman sent a clear message that police excesses will not be tolerated when she sent four policemen to prison for 18 months for brutalising a popular businessman during an attempt to arrest him. Corporal Kevon Smith and Constables Jermaine Scott, Marlon Gonsalves and Wilwert Watts, were all found guilty of assaulting Nezam Khan on July 14, 2012. The four cops, who were stationed at the Brickdam Police Station, had pleaded not guilty when they made their first court appearance and were placed on self-bail by Chief Magistrate Priya Beharry, who later transferred the matter to the court of Magistrate Latchman. The facts of the case which had the court’s attention for just over a year, revealed that on the said date, the officers were on mobile patrol on the East Bank Demerara Public Road during a traffic build-up when they noticed that Khan was in breach of one of the traffic regulations and proceeded to caution him. However the businessman reportedly drove away. The officers chased Khan all the way to his home which is also located on the East Bank of Demerara. But what should have been a routine arrest, turned into an ugly scene. The court heard that the officers entered the businessman’s home and one of them dealt him several slaps before berating him about fleeing the scene. The other ranks reportedly joined in and dealt Khan a number of blows about the body. The businessman was then thrown into a police vehicle and taken to a station where he was placed in the lock-ups. It was also revealed that while on their way to the station, Khan suffered additional blows from the ranks. News of the businessman’s assault subsequently reached the ears of the ranks’ superiors, who immediately ordered that Khan be released and taken for medical attention. A medical report indicated that Khan sustained swelling to various parts of his body. The ranks were subsequently charged and placed before the court. Following a lengthy trial and after much deliberation by Magistrate Latchman, the officers were found guilty of assaulting the businessman. After the sentence was handed down the ranks and their relatives who had turned up shed bitter tears, since they had all anticipated the accused paying fines.