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).

Portugal


Information transmitted to the Government

453. By letter dated 3 November 1993 the Special Rapporteur informed the Government of reports he had received concerning the following two cases:

(a) Francisco Carretas and a friend were arrested by agents of the Almada gendarmerie (GNR) unit in Charneca da Caparica on 6 February 1992. At the moment of arrest and later, at the GNR post, they were reportedly beaten and verbally threatened. They were then taken to a forest near Almada where three officers allegedly kicked and punched them; one officer allegedly also threatened to assault Francisco Carretas sexually. He was later treated for his injuries in the Garcia de Orta hospital in Almada. An X-ray allegedly showed a suspected fracture of the coccyx, while photographs taken after his release showed serious and extensive bruises on the back, buttocks and legs. A judicial inquiry was reportedly opened.

(b) Orlando Correia, a French citizen of Portuguese origin, was reportedly physically assaulted by officers of the judiciary police on 9 September 1992, while in preventive detention in Guarda prison on charges relating to drug-trafficking. He was said to have been admitted later to the emergency service of Guarda hospital in a state of unconsciousness. According to the medical certificate issued by the hospital, he had bruises and scratches on his chest and back. The Office of the Director General of the judiciary police reportedly opened a disciplinary investigation into the matter at the end of September.



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