Man punched by policeman awaits judge's decision on compensation Tim Vivoda. A MAN who was punched by a policeman while in custody could be awarded more than $300,000 in compensation. Tim Vivoda claims Sen-Constable David Kealy, 42, grossly abused his power by striking him in the face at the Ringwood police station cells in 2008. The Ethical Standards Department had found Mr Vivoda's claim unsubstantiated, a finding upheld by the Office of Police Integrity. The County Court civil trial ended yesterday, with Judge Chris O'Neill reserving his decision. The court heard Mr Vivoda had been left with thousands of dollars in medical bills, had developed suicidal tendencies and had been left with permanent injuries. In another day of drama, police were accused of lying under oath and of orchestrating a defence to Mr Vivoda's claims. Dyson Hore-Lacy, SC, for Mr Vivoda, was damning of an Ethical Standards Department investigation into his client's allegations, accusing the officer heading the case, Sen-Sgt Jeff Haines, of providing witnesses with Sen-Constable Kealy's unsworn statement. The court heard this week that Sen-Constable Dennis Gundrill, who grabbed Mr Vivoda moments before Sen-Constable Kealy punched him "as hard as he could," was instructed by Sen-Sgt Haines to add details to his statement supporting Sen-Constable Kealy's version of events. "It was a farce of an investigation," Mr Hore-Lacy told the court. Not only has Haines sent him a statement from (another witness), he's sent him the unsworn statement of the informant and told him to say `I've just read the informant's statement and I agree it's true and correct', which is exactly what he did. Mr Hore-Lacy said Sen-Sgt Haines had tainted the evidence of up to four witnesses by telling them what to say. "The very person who has been challenged to investigate the complaint is the very person who has been orchestrating (Kealy's) defence," he said. Ronald Gipp, for Sen-Constable Kealy, maintained his client acted in self-defence after Mr Vivoda "lunged" towards his right hip. The officer of 17 years claims he punched Mr Vivoda because he feared he had tried to grab his police firearm, which had been checked in when he entered the cells.