A young black man is suing his local government for GBP 160,000 in compensation after being dragged in cuffs ‘like a slave’ by a cop on a motorcycle.
Jhonny Italo da Silva, 19, from Brazil, is allegedly suing the government of Sao Paulo for being “humiliated” by a police officer in November 2021.
Jhonny experienced what he said was the embarrassment of his lifetime when an officer handcuffed his left hand to his police bike and dragged him along the road for over 300 metres.
Jhonny was allegedly caught transporting marijuana after crashing his motorcycle in the incident last year.
The entire nation was shocked when a video, taken by an unnamed witness, showed the young black man being pulled by the motorcycle alongside an avenue.
The man who recorded the images reportedly laughed and mocked the situation, saying: “He’s handcuffed and is walking like a slave. Hey. Are you going to steal more now?”
Many social media users labelled the unsettling episode as “cold-blooded torture”.
The image of the unemployed person being dragged by the agent on a motorcycle provoked reactions and debates among members of public security about torture, abuse of authority and racism.
Jhonny spoke out following the incident: “I felt humiliated, I was afraid of dying. I made a mistake, but I didn’t deserve to be humiliated.”
It is reported that Jhonny’s legal team is now preparing a lawsuit against the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo, demanding BRL 1 million (GBP 158,590) in moral compensation.
Lawyers Valdomiro Pereira da Silva, Kelvin Bertolla and Ricardo Corsini said: “The State of Sao Paulo must be condemned to indemnify for moral damages, a consequence of the harm caused to the plaintiff, considering it a form of satisfaction to the victim for the suffering, embarrassment, and humiliation endured and punishment of the offender.
“We demand it pays compensation for the misfortunes experienced, in the amount of BRL 1 million [GBP 158,590] “.
The documents were reportedly forwarded to the 5th Public Treasury Court of the Court of Justice.
