Aspiring MP plans to sue police over 96-hour detention
By ALISON LOWE
Tribune Staff Reporter
alowe@tribunemedia.net:
AN ASPIRING would-be MP and his American business partner are preparing to sue the police for their "unjustified" 96-hours detention in the disappearance of a German in Cat Island.
Cat Island native Ezra Russell and US citizen Rob Law were held for questioning from Saturday, May 8, to Wednesday, May 12, after Cat Island resident, Johannes Maximillian Harsch was reported to have disappeared, leaving his private jet and yacht on the island.
According to Mr Russell, Mr Law - who is presently out of the country -- also will be seeking compensation for the alleged "abuse" he claims he suffered at the hands of police detectives during questioning. He has alleged that he was "smothered" with a plastic bag put over his head by officers in an attempt to obtain information.
Following their questioning over the four-day period, the two men were released without charges being brought, according to police.
Almost three weeks after he was last seen, Mr Harsch, who rented a private villa near the Fernandez Bay resort on Cat Island, remains unaccounted for.
Now Mr Russell, who hopes to run as an independent MP for Cat Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador in the next general election, claims that police have come up short when pressed for answers about the basis on which they were able to detain Mr Law and himself beyond the usual 48 hours police are allowed to hold a person for questioning in connection with a crime.
"Everyone's playing like they don't know what's going on," said Mr Russell.
Police told the media at the time that they were able to get an extension granted by the court for the additional time to speak with the men.
Meanwhile, Mr Russell is also claiming that a political conspiracy is behind him being held in custody for the extra period. Although he has provided no evidence, he believes that his would-be political opponent, Cat Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador MP Philip "Brave" Davis might be behind an attempt to sully his reputation. Mr Russell, who was Mr Davis' campaign general in the MP's previous elections, recently announced his intention to run against Mr Davis in the next election. Mr Davis is also Deputy leader of the PLP.
The businessman also hopes to get approval in the near future to go ahead with a resort development on the island in conjunction with Mr Law.
Yesterday Mr Davis dismissed such allegations as "nonsense."
"As long as I've known Ezra Russell and his family I've done nothing to harm, obstruct or in anyway frustrate their legitimate goals and I have no desire to do so," Mr Davis said, adding that he has no "control over the police."
Explaining the circumstances that he believes led to his arrest, Mr Russell noted that Mr Law, who has lived on the island for about 15 years, had been friends with Mr Harsch, but the two ex-patriates had recently "fallen out."
"The police came to the island and didn't do a proper investigation. They just listened to rumours," said Mr Russell.
Calls to head of the Police's Central Detective Unit, Superintendent Leon Bethel, yesterday for comment on the status of the investigation in Mr Harsch's disappearance and Mr Russell's allegations were not returned.
June 02, 2010
tribune242
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