A/HRC/4/33/Add.3
page 32
three similar areas of bruising up to 10 cm in diameter over the right buttock and a further 10 cm
bruise on the inner aspect of the left lower leg, together with two areas of markedly yellowing
bruise to the upper mid-abdomen and left side of the abdomen. There were no defensive type
injuries to the hands and arms and this together with the extent of the bruising to the buttocks
was supportive of his allegation that he had been repeatedly beaten whilst restrained. The
colouration of the bruising was consistent with the time interval between the alleged assault and
the examination.
(b)
Cell 13 - Special Brigade incident of 22 June 2006
31.
The prisoners in Cell 13: On 22 June 2006, between 11.30 p.m. and 12.30 a.m.,
some 25 to 30 officers known as the Special Brigade (who normally guard prisoners on the way
to court) entered Cell 13 in search of drugs and illegal weapons, on the orders of the director.
The officers insulted the prisoners, who were watching television, and demanded them to remove
their clothes. The prisoners were slapped and struck with cables and broom handles. They were
forced to stand facing a wall, and hold up their feet. They were hit on the heels, and beaten on
their backs with cables and pipes. A preventive security officer did not intervene and did not
prevent the beatings. One senior prison official encouraged the Special Brigade. He ordered the
prisoners to be shaved. Following complaints of the incident, the prisoners were examined for
injuries. During their medical examination they were blindfolded, handcuffed, and shackled.
The prisoners waited in a van and were called one-by-one to an examination room. The
examinations were cursory, lasting about two minutes each, involving examinations of the back
only, and the prisoners were not asked to explain the circumstances of the injuries.
32.
Sami Ramahi, aged 32, a United States national. He reported that during this incident he
was struck with a plastic pipe across his waist.
33.
On examination this man had a large D-shaped yellowing purple bruise with central
sparring immediately to the left of the umbilicus measuring approximately 15 x 8 cm and
consistent with the alleged time (6 days previously) and method of infliction. Other detainees
who alleged having been beaten in the same incident six days previously included an unnamed
individual who alleged he was struck with a broom handle across the nipple. He had a markedly
yellowing purple bruise approximately 12 cm in diameter surrounding the nipple with a linear
scabbed abrasion above the nipple consistent with the alleged timing and method of infliction.
Another detainee from the same group displayed a 15 cm scabbed “rail-track” abrasion with
central 1 cm sparing to the right anterior chest and a similar 8 cm scabbed abrasion with bruising
to the left shoulder. Yet another detainee from the same group showed multiple yellowing
purple “rail-track” bruises to both shoulder areas, bruising to the outer aspect of the right thigh
15 x 10 cm and to the right hip 10 x 8 cm. Taken together the injuries are strongly corroborative
of the allegation that the group of prisoners was beaten using cables and plastic pipes six days
previously.
34.
The Government informed that Mr. Ramahi was convicted for issuing cheques without
funds to cover them, and has a previous criminal record.
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