(Trinidad Guardian) A 61-year-old man, who was left permanently scarred after doused with acid by his sister-in-law, has finally received compensation after an almost two-decade-long legal battle.
On January 31, High Court Master Martha Alexander ordered more than $1 million compensation for Raffick Mohammed, of Walker Street, Caroni, at the end of his protracted private assault and battery claim against Myra Bhagwansingh.
In a telephone interview yesterday, Mohammed said he was pleased with the outcome. “Money can’t compensate for this but I can help a little,” he said.
However, he stated that he was disappointed by the slow pace of the justice system. “Justice is like that in Trinidad. Imagine when this happened, my son was one-year-old, now he has a one-year-old son himself,” Mohammed said.
In assessing the compensation, Alexander analysed the extensive injuries he sustained in 1991 and the dozen procedures and operations he had to undergo to help repair the damage.
Alexander noted that Mohammed suffered acid burns to 16 per cent of his body in the attack. His face was left disfigured. Skin had to be harvested from his groin and thighs for skin grafts.
In addition to the physical injuries, Mohammed also claimed to have suffered depression.
