U.N. Commission on Human Rights, Report of the Special Rapporteur on torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, U.N. Doc. E/CN.4/1994/31 (1994)(Nigel Rodley, Special Rapporteur).

Mauritania


Information received from the Government with respect to cases included in previous reports

377. On 28 September 1992 the Special Rapporteur sent an urgent appeal to the Government in connection with incidents of torture reported to have taken place in the village of Sorimale, M'Bagne department, as a result of which Dia Hamath Atouman allegedly died.

378. On 24 December 1992 the Government informed the Special Rapporteur that on the night of 22 August 1992, a trader with a business in Sorimale had been seriously wounded and had died several hours later. An investigation had led to the arrest of Sarr Amadou Mamadou, also known as Alassane, and Diop Ismaila, Niass Yaya and M'bodj Hamidou. They had been brought before the Government Prosecutor and transferred to the prison at Aleg, where they were awaiting trial. They had access to their lawyers, to a doctor and to their families.

379. The confessions made by the accused had not been obtained under torture and both the investigation by the Government Prosecutor's Office and the trial would take place in full observance of the normal rules applicable in a State governed by the rule of law.

380. The death of Dia Hamath Atouman had been due to natural causes and was in no way connected with the above-mentioned case. He had never been questioned by the officials handling the investigation. No complaint had been lodged concerning him and, were one to be made, an official investigation would be undertaken and conducted in accordance with the law.


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