Relevant Background
The events deposed in the Claimant’s affidavits in support of the claim include collusion, forced abduction, removal from Antigua and Barbuda, assault, and battery. The Claimant was taken by force on a water vessel to the Commonwealth of Dominica. [9]The Claimant deposes that he met a specific person in August 2020. On 23rd May 2021, at approximately 17:00, the Claimant attended a villa in Jolly Harbour at the instance of that person. On that day, the Claimant’s affidavit evidence is that when he entered the villa, he was immediately surrounded by approximately six (6) to eight (8) men who claimed to be from the Antiguan police force and stated that they wanted to take the Claimant to St. John’s police station.
The Claimant indicates that none of the men were in police uniform or were in clothing that he recognized to be police attire. The Claimant’s evidence is that at the moment when he was accosted by the men, he requested to speak with his lawyers, but that request was refused. He stated that he was physically restrained and beaten by the men. One of the men put his hand around the Claimant’s neck and started to choke the Claimant.
They began to beat the Claimant about his body, they punched him repeatedly in his head, arm, chest, and leg. A Taser was discharged to the Claimant’s face, hands, and other exposed areas of skin causing burns, bruises, and immense pain. Each time the Claimant was tasered the Claimant describes that it felt unbearable. As a result of the aggression of the men, the Claimant sustained an injury to his head which started to bleed. The Claimant describes that what appeared to him to be a kitchen knife was pointed at the Claimant and his life was threatened by one of the men.
The Claimant was forcibly placed into a wheelchair, and his hands, legs, and body were tied to the frame of the wheelchair. The Claimant describes that the men continued to beat him on his head and about his body. A gag was pushed into the Claimant’s mouth, and a mask was placed over his head which prevented the Claimant from seeing. The Claimant recounts that at this stage he was barely conscious, in considerable pain, and found it difficult to breathe.
See the full Judgment of the court attached. https://www.eccourts.org/mehul-choksi-v-the-attorney-general-of-antigua-and-barbuda-et-al/
