MONTEGO BAY, St James — The owner of a rehabilitation centre who is accused of inflicting electrical shocks and beatings with a metal club to a male resident in his care is preparing to stand trial.

According to court documents, the beaten man is a resident of Trendy Rehabilitation Centre located in Lilliput, St James. The centre is owned and operated by Nizam Thomas.

Thomas is charged with assault occasioning bodily harm, unlawful wounding, assault at common law, and malicious destruction of property. He made his second appearance in the St James Parish Court last Wednesday.

During that day’s sitting the complainant, when questioned on his preferred resolution, told presiding judge Kaysha Grant-Pryce that he needs compensation in the amount of $10 million. However, the judge explained that this amount exceeds the authority of the Criminal Court, and would fall within the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.

“If you are seeking monetary compensation for your injuries and loss of clothes, and a reasonable figure can be determined, then you are in the right place. We can determine that matter at mediation,” Grant-Pryce advised.

The complainant indicated a preference for that approach.

Addressing the complainant’s mother, the judge asked, “How do you wish for this matter to be resolved? Is it something that compensation can assist?”

“I do not need compensation,” the mother replied, adding that her son does not have the mental capacity to make such a decision.

The judge then proceeded to highlight the importance of engaging in mediation to facilitate a resolution between the parties involved in the dispute.

“We are not trying to push things under the cupboard or trying to cover up things. Oftentimes it is for the benefit of the complainant to start off with these kinds of things with a negotiation process… If your son is unable to properly account for the incident, the case may end because he does not have the mental capacity to give evidence, and you may get no justice,” Grant-Pryce said, adding that mediation also shortens the process.

The mother agreed to participate in mediation. However, a trial date has been set for April 1 as they attempt to resolve the matter through alternative dispute resolution methods.

Allegations are that in October last year Thomas used an extension cord with exposed wires to administer multiple shocks to the complainant’s chest, as a form of punishment for smoking.

It is also alleged that after the complainant ate a pack of peanuts that was inside a car belonging to Thomas he was beaten by him with a metal club.

The court was also told that if the complainant was caught stealing or smoking, Thomas would rip his clothes off and subject him to additional punishment.

The prosecution painted the picture of a history of abuse that the complainant allegedly suffered at Thomas’s hands during the time he lived at the centre.

The complainant’s mother called the police after she visited her son at the centre and noticed injuries on his feet. The authorities were notified, and this ultimately led to charges being brought against Thomas.

However, Thomas has denied the allegations, and in a court appearance last November his attorney Martyn Thomas said that his client has occasionally filed reports against the complainant.

“He has his receipts from the police to substantiate this. While he is not interested in pursuing them he is anxious to have a trial date,” the attorney told the court at the time.