The Court of Appeal of Trinidad and Tobago has overturned a High Court finding of negligence against Republic Bank Ltd in a case arising from a 2022 break-in at its Couva branch, ruling that the bank had exercised reasonable care in securing its premises and safe deposit facilities.
In a judgment dated August 6, 2026, Justices of Appeal Mark Mohammed, Maria Wilson and Ricky Rahim overturned the High Court’s earlier finding of negligence against Republic Bank in a case brought by former bank employee Curtis Mathura.
The case stemmed from a break-in at the Couva branch between May 29 and 30, 2022, during which intruders drilled through a wall and gained access to the bank’s vault and several safe deposit boxes, including Mathura’s.
Mathura, who had worked at Republic Bank for nearly 31 years before retiring, sued the bank for damages over the loss of valuables from his safe deposit box, alleging negligence and breach of contract relating to the security of the facility.
In October 2024, High Court Justice Carol Gobin ruled in Mathura’s favour, finding that the bank’s security systems had fallen below the required standard of care. Mathura claimed to have lost approximately TT$300,000 (US$44,409) in jewellery and foreign currency.
The Court of Appeal, however, found that Republic Bank had implemented comprehensive security measures at the Couva branch and that its employees had exercised the expected level of ordinary care in operating the bank’s security systems and securing the premises.
The court found no evidence of negligence by the bank’s employees and emphasised that the law requires reasonable care, rather than infallibility.
The Court of Appeal therefore concluded that the bank had met the applicable legal standard and ordered Republic Bank to recover its prescribed costs in the High Court and two-thirds of its prescribed costs in the appeal.
Republic Bank President and Managing Director Nigel Baptiste welcomed the decision.
‘We welcome the Court of Appeal’s decision, which confirms that Republic Bank exercised reasonable care in relation to the operation of our employee procedures and security systems,’ Baptiste said.
‘While the events at our Couva Branch in 2022 were regrettable, the Court has affirmed that the Bank acted responsibly and diligently in the circumstances.’
Baptiste said protecting customers, employees and the bank’s assets remained fundamental to its operations.
‘Our customers can be assured that we remain committed to serving responsibly and doing all that we can to maintain the trust and confidence they have placed in us,’ he said.
Mathura’s attorneys have indicated that they intend to take the matter to the Privy Council.