State ordered to pay more than $500,000 fort malicious prosecution

A High Court Judge on Wednesday ordered the state to pay a Sangre Grande man more than half a million dollars for malicious prosecution in a matter dating back to 1999.

Mark Blake claimed that on February 16th, 1999, police arrested him and his brother in connection with a kidnapping and robbery. He said both of them were subsequently placed on separate ID parades.

Based on that alone, he claimed police charged him and he was convicted and jailed in 2005. In 2008, a judge freed Blake, stating that the ID parade was flawed. 

On Wednesday Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh ruled that the ID parade was unfair and awarded Blake damages in the sum of $450,000 with interest along with costs amounting to $50,000.