CAT/C/61/D/661/2015
there is a report concluding that it was necessary to hospitalize Dmitry Rakishev; that the
chief of the detention centre, A.D. while under investigation harassed and threatened
witnesses, including N.G.
5.5
The State party does not explain why the criminal investigation against medical
personnel was discontinued in 2011 and reinstated only in 2015. To date, the complainant
has had no information regarding the results of this investigation. No report was provided
based on the examination of 30 June 2015, which allegedly was conducted by the
authorities. The complainant further indicates that all investigations have been carried out
by the Stepnogorsk police. This means that there will be no thorough, prompt and impartial
investigation by authorities.
5.6
The State party, instead of initiating a torture investigation, limited itself to
considering negligence by the chief of the detention centre and medical personnel.
Meanwhile, several witnesses, such as K.N., who testified in court, and N.G., who
submitted written testimony, said that Dmitry Rakishev was beaten by the police officers
for failure to appear in court for hearings.
State party’s additional observations
6.1
In its submission dated 4 March 2016, the State party admitted that the chief of the
detention facility, A.D., had committed negligence. According to article 16 (1) and (2) of
law No. 353-1 on the order and conditions of detention of persons in specialized institutions
which enforce temporary isolation from society, detained persons have a right to free
medical services. Article 23 (1) of the law requires the administration of the detention
facility to provide health services to suspects and accused persons.
6.2
Articles 1 and 17 of the rules on providing medical services to persons in detention
require that a person must be hospitalized if the doctors of the detention facility or doctors
of the ambulance service conclude that it is necessary. A.D. was duly informed about such
a necessity but failed to authorize hospitalization due to his negligence. Since he did not
receive proper medical care, Dmitry Rakishev died in his cell on 8 May 2011. The court
concluded that A.D. was guilty of negligence. The court also concluded that A.D. did not
foresee that his actions or inaction would have such dire consequences, but he should have
foreseen them.
6.3
As submitted previously, the criminal investigation into actions or inaction of the
medical personnel have been reinstated and is ongoing. To maintain the impartiality of the
investigation, the case was transferred from the Stepnogorsk police to the Burabai regional
department of the bureau to combat corruption.
Issues and proceedings before the Committee
Consideration of admissibility
7.1
Before considering a claim contained in a communication, the Committee must
decide whether it is admissible under article 22 of the Convention. The Committee has
ascertained, as it is required to do under article 22 (5) (a) of the Convention, that the same
matter has not been and is not being examined under another procedure of international
investigation or settlement.
7.2
The Committee recalls that, in accordance with article 22 (5) (b) of the Convention,
it shall not consider any communication from an individual unless it has ascertained that the
individual has exhausted all available domestic remedies. It notes that, in the present case,
the State party has not submitted any challenges regarding the exhaustion of all available
domestic remedies. Accordingly, the Committee finds no obstacles to admissibility; it
declares the communication admissible and proceeds with the examination of the merits.
Consideration of the merits
8.1
The Committee has considered the communication in the light of all the information
made available to it by the parties concerned, in accordance with article 22 (4) of the
Convention.
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