The seven police officers arrested this week, being investigated for torture and other crimes at the Rato and Bairro Alto police stations, were in pre-trial detention.in Lisbon. The coercive measures, released by the Public Security Police (PSP), were announced this Saturday, March 7th.
The reasons for the decision to keep these seven police officers arrested are related to the risk of “continuation of criminal activity”, among others.“Based on the danger of continuation of criminal activity, serious disturbance of public peace and order and danger of conservation and acquisition of evidenceand in accordance with what was promoted by the Public Ministry, the JIC determined the application to the seven accused of the precautionary measure of preventive detention“.
Now, There are already nine police officers detained preventively in connection with the case. At issue are crimes of “serious torture, completed and attempted rape, abuse of power, possession of a prohibited weapon, serious and qualified offenses against physical integrity”. The commander of the PSP Lisbon Metropolitan Command also ordered the opening of seven disciplinary proceedings.
In the same statement sent to newsrooms, the PSP highlights its “repudiation” of any criminal behavior on the part of the corporation’s agents. “The PSP therefore repudiates any and all forms of disrespect and violationboth legal precepts and deontological principles, so within our competences of prevention, monitoring and supervision, we will do everything we can to combat them, internally and externally”, he mentions.
In addition to the repudiation, the PSP management also regrets the situation.”The PSP regrets this and any other behavior that puts rights, freedoms and guarantees at risk, Therefore, everything will be done to ensure that behaviors such as those investigated are absolutely and completely exceptional and so that it does not happen again within the Institution in the future.“, he points out.
This investigation began with the PSP itself, which found out about the case. According to the research, there is footage and photos of the alleged attacks, which were shared in messaging groups.
“Bro, if he had died we would be in shit”
According to the MP’s order, the police commented on the attacks in message groups after sending photos and videos showing the victims being physically tortured. “He’s going to walk down the street with his head down”, “he’s going to wake up all fucked up tomorrow” and “when he sees the color blue he’ll run” are some of the phrases cited.
But there’s more: “It was a shame that that faggot didn’t die” and “I would put the guy in the Tagus”, and a police officer responded. “Bro, if he had died we would be in shit.” According to the indictment, one of the victims, born in Morocco, in addition to being physically tortured, he was forced to kiss the police officers’ boots, while they said “Welcome to Portugal” and “Beija, kiss, kiss, car***”.
“There is no place in the Portuguese security forces for practices of illegitimate violence”, says MAI
“The Government is absolutely clear: there is no place in the Portuguese security forces for practices of illegitimate violence, ill-treatment or any form of violation of fundamental rights. Whenever there is evidence of such behavior, they must be investigated and punished in accordance with the law”, iindicated, in a statement, the office of minister Luís Neves.
The Ministry of Internal Administration (MAI) highlights that “the arrests carried out yesterday show that State institutions are functioning and that any suspicions of illegal behavior on the part of security force agents will be investigated with complete rigor”. At the same time, the new MAI discards generalizations: “The overwhelming majority of PSP professionals serve Portugal with a high sense of mission, courage and respect for democratic legality”.
Finally, the ministry states that it will monitor the case “and will continue to fully collaborate with the judicial authorities to fully clarify the facts and hold those who need to be held accountable”, he concludes. After taking over MAI, Luís Neves stated that “deviant behavior” from law enforcement agents would not be tolerated.
amanda.lima@dn.pt
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