A Jamaican woman has filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit against the Guyanese government for wrongful imprisonment.
The 54 year old woman was released from prison and held for an additional eight months at the East La Penitence Police Station.
Sandra Russell is suing the state for $10 million for each day she spent unlawfully in custody.
She is also seeking more than $20 million for inhumane and degrading treatment; in excess of $20 million for breach of her freedom of movement and $50 million for false imprisonment.
Last year, Sandra Russell was sentenced to eight months imprisonment and fined for possession of 70 grams of cannabis.
Her sentence was reduced to three and a half months which was served at the New Amsterdam Prison.
However, at the end of her sentence, on November 10, Ms Russell was released into the custody of an Immigration Officer, who told her that she would be deported to Jamaica.
Ms Russell was locked up for another eight months, during which time, she says she was not taken to court.
She also contends that she fell ill due to poor conditions in the prison.
She was released on $10,000 bail on July 7 this year.
The Attorney General, Commissioner of Police and the Chief Immigration Officer are listed as respondents in the lawsuit.
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