E/CN.4/2000/9 page 93 456. Joseph Topuria was reportedly verbally abused and then beaten by a traffic inspector in Tbilisi on 26 September 1997. He was allegedly severely beaten again on the same day by the deputy head of the Tbilisi City Police Traffic Department, after having lodged a complaint with the police. A doctor who examined him two days later is said to have recorded a dislocated jaw and other marks consistent with his allegations. According to the information received, the Isani District Procurator's Office refused to open an investigation. 457. Badri Tsindeliani is said to have been detained in the police station at Tsnori on 27 September 1997, where he was allegedly beaten and kicked on the head, body and soles of his feet. Seven police officers are alleged to have taken part in the beatings, which are said to have lasted four hours. A subsequent medical examination reportedly found that he suffered concussion and injuries to his eye and ear which were consistent with his allegations. 458. Gogi Shiukashvili was reportedly detained on 25 January 1998 by police from Gldani district, Tbilisi, on suspicion of stealing wheels. According to the information received, he was allegedly beaten with truncheons for 15 days, to the extent that he was virtually unable to move. He allegedly lost consciousness for several hours and trembled at night. His nose was reportedly broken and he is said to be suffering from severe headaches. 459. Malkhaz Kamsiashvili is said to have been severely beaten both when he was taken into custody and subsequently at the City Police Administration, on 19 February 1998. According to the information received, he was made to stand naked in freezing water and was hit repeatedly on the stomach in an attempt to force him to confess. As a result, he sustained several injuries which were treated at the Republican Hospital for prisoners. A medical examination regarding his allegations was reportedly arranged only 20 days after his injuries were sustained. 460. Sergo Kvaratskhelia, a stone carver, was reportedly severely beaten by a crowd in the Georgian town of Tsalendijikha on suspicion of having defiled a grave from which he allegedly stole money and drugs. He reportedly spent three days in hospital, from which he was allegedly abducted by the crowd. The local district police is said to have called the regional police station for assistance, which reportedly sent a contingent of some 40 armed officers. But a crowd of some 20 people reportedly tortured him to death and mutilated him after the head of the district administration reportedly refused to let the police intervene in the events, allegedly saying: "Do not interfere, these people know what they are doing". The heads of the district and regional police are also said to have been present at the time. The former is said to have then been removed from his post after a protest meeting in Tsalendijikha in the following days, and the latter was reportedly dismissed in connection with another incident. The head of the district administration is reportedly still in post. 461. Levan Gagua, aged 17, was reportedly detained on 16 March 1998 by police officers from the Saburtalo district of Tbilisi on suspicion of murdering his step-mother. He was reportedly taken to the second floor of the Saburtalo district police station where he was allegedly threatened with rape unless he repeated everything a policeman was telling him to say, in the presence of a lawyer. Later that night, police officers allegedly drove him to the bank of a river where they again threatened to rape and shoot him, claiming that he had tried to escape. He was later transferred to the Tbilisi City Police