The Defendant did not lead any evidence to controvert or disprove these
testimonies neither did it produce document to rebut the 4th Plaintiff’s allegation
of detention at the Gwarimpa police station despite its contention that the records
did not disclose such detention. The Defendant failed or neglected to attach the
register of the Gwarimpa police station on the day in question to establish its
submission. For the avoidance of doubt in cases in which an Applicant alleges
arrest and detention, it is usually difficult for them to have access to the detailed
record of the arrest, a fact usually within the knowledge and possession of the
arresting officials. How does he prove the facts of arrest other than through an
assertion of that fact. Mere denial of lack of arrest on the part of a Defendant
cannot suffice. The Court usually presumes the fact of arrest and its unlawfulness
and the Defendant have to rebut it by producing credible evidence of absence of
arrest and detention of the Applicant. A general denial by the Defendant as in this
case is not sufficient.
In the light of the above the plaintiffs have established the facts of their allegation
of harassment of 1st Plaintiff and arrest of 4th Plaintiff on the preponderance of
evidence adduced.
In FERNANDEZ ORTEGA ET.AL V. MEXICO. INTER.AM CT.HR (SER C)
No.215 (Aug 2010), the Court noted that the State had the burden to provide
conclusive information to disprove the alleged facts and having provided no
evidence in contradiction of the plaintiff’s claim has failed to discharge that
burden and so found the state responsible.
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