Port-of-Spain (Trinidad Express):

KENNTY Mitchell, the self-confessed homosexual man who was awarded $28,400 by a judge after he was unlawfully arrested, detained and taunted by police officers seven years ago, has filed another lawsuit against the State arising out of an alleged similar incident, last year.

Mitchell, 29, a welder and part-time maxi-taxi driver of Ste Madeleine, is claiming that he was arrested and kept at the Couva Police Station for three days, and was released without being charged.

He says, on his release, police officers told him that a computer error led them to believe that there was a warrant for his arrest.

Mitchell says during his stay at the station, police officers taunted, jeered and laughed at his sexual orientation and encouraged other prisoners to do the same.

In an affidavit, filed on his behalf by attorney, Kevin Ratiram, Mitchell says he was arrested at the Couva Police Station on December 9, 2006 by officers who told him that there was an outstanding warrant for his arrest.

Mitchell says he told the police that they were making a mistake and insisted that they double-check the information, but they refused.

He claims that he was denied access to his diabetic medication brought to the station by his relatives.

Mitchell was allegedly released on December 11, 2006.

He is asking a court to award him compensation in the sum of $750, with interest, to cover his loss of earnings. He is also seeking aggravated and/or exemplary damages and legal costs.