Former cashier at Unicomer Inc., Stanwick Rose, has filed a $21 million lawsuit against the Guyana Police Force and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) which he accuses of maliciously prosecuting him.
In his statement of claim, Rose deposed that on February 1st, 2022, he was working at Unicomer Lots 25-26 Main Street, Georgetown, office, when he was approached by two staff members.
Rose said that the two were accompanied by a police detective who levelled an allegation against him of stealing $5,197,747 from the Company after which he was escorted down to the Brickdam Police Station.
The Claimant said that while at the police station he was questioned by an officer who he identified in his statement of claim (SoC) as “Inspector Wintz;” before next being taken to the East Ruimveldt Police Station.
There, he alleges being ordered by another policeman who he identified as “officer Morris;” to strip naked, leaving only his vest on, and to squat and cough.
Rose said that he complied and was forced to spend that night in custody at the East Ruimveldt Police Station.
He said he was finally released the following day on $100,000 station bail and instructed to report to the Brickdam Police Station twice a week, with which he complied.
Rose said that he was subsequently charged and placed before the George-town Magistrate’s Court on November 14th, 2022 with two separate indictable offences of ‘Larceny by Clerk or Servant.’
He said that he pleaded not guilty to both charges and was placed on $50,000 and $300,000 bail, respectively, for the offences and further instructed by the Court to continue reporting to Brickdam on the first Monday of every month.
Through his attorney Donavon Rangiah, Rose deposes in his SoC that neither the police nor Unicomer produced cogent evidence to prosecute him for the offences.
According to the claim, prosecution witnesses, Michael Ryan Assanah, indicated that neither of the two statements “purported” to be his, bore his signature.
According to Rangiah and his client, the Magistrate who conducted the trial, held that the evidence could not be relied upon by the prosecution.
Rose said that with the prosecution failing to establish its case against him, the matter was eventually dismissed for insufficient evidence on June 6th, 2023.
The Claimant said that because of his prosecution his reputation has been harmed and he has suffered mental anguish, adding that he was prevented from attending to his place of work at National Hardware and Pakaraima Chemicals Inc., and has thus suffered loss and damage.
Rose said, too, that his wife who was pregnant at the time of the prosecution and his entire family had also suffered “mental anguish.”
He said that with his photograph being published in the press about the charges, it has affected his ability to acquire alternative employment.
Rose is hoping that a court will grant him the damages along with interest, he is seeking as compensation.
He is also asking for costs and any further order the Court deems just to grant.
Apart from the Commis-sioner of Police and the office of the DPP, the claim is also brought against the Attorney General.
