A MAN WHOSE motorcar was recovered a month after it was stolen has expressed concern about the one-year delay in informing him of the recovery.
He said because of the delay, he had to pay $75,000 to a wrecker company in March this year for storage fee.
Mr. Kenneth Hamilton complained that his motor vehicle was stolen from the campus of the University of the West Indies on September 6, 2004. He reported the matter to the Papine police station that same day. He was informed by the police in December 2005 that the car was recovered from as far back as October 2004.
Mr. Hall says he has not been offered any explanation why he was not informed before then of the recovery of his motorcar.
He said he went to police departments in an attempt to get assistance to get back his motorcar but he was advised that he would have to pay the storage fee to the private wrecker company.
NO DIFFICULTY
He paid $75,000 in March this year and the car was released to him. He said since 2004 he has not changed his address and telephone number so the police could not say they had difficulty finding him.
Mr. Hall is contemplating taking legal action in the matter.
A senior police officer who was contacted on the matter said that the procedure was that when a motor vehicle was reported stolen, the Stolen Motor Vehicle Unit in the police force must be notified so a record can be made of the motor vehicle.
He said also that whenever a motor vehicle was recovered, the unit should be notified for checks to be made and the owner notified.
It would appear that if Mr. Hall files a suit against the Government, he has a good chance of winning, because the police may have been negligent in the handling of the matter.
Mr. Hall can sue to recover damages for loss of use of his motor vehicle as well as the $75,000 he had to pay to get back his motorcar.
Do
you have a problem? Is something bothering
you? Write to 
