E/CN.4/1993/26 page 48 214. Sehmus Ukus, a Kurd and Turkish citizen, was detained on 4 July 1990 by police in central Athens. He was reportedly taken to an area of high ground, stripped naked and hung from a tree. He was later taken down, burned on the soles of his feet and his genitals with a cigarette lighter and beaten with sticks. 215. The Government replied that Mr. Ukus had filed a complaint against three policemen at the Public Prosecutor's office. After the corresponding investigation was concluded, the complaint was rejected as unfounded, as a result of which Mr. Ukus was not examined by a forensic surgeon. He did not lodge an appeal against the decision. The results of the inquiry ordered by the Ministry of Public Order and carried out by the Security Division of Attica were also negative. 216. Pantelis Tsoumbris was arrested on 16 January 1991 in Athens by two policemen who beat him on the head, feet, back and genitals with their truncheons. Afterwards, they took him to the G Police Station where the beatings continued. 217. The Government replied that the Public Prosecutor of the Magistrate's Court of Athens started legal proceedings against Sergeant Palskovitis and Constables Theofilopoulos and Ntovros for light physical injury and verbal abuse against Mr. Tsoumbris. The trial was fixed for 4 December 1992. Mr. Tsoumbris can claim an indemnity for moral injury during the trial. In addition to this, the Ministry of Public Order, on the basis of the administrative investigation carried out, judged that the three policemen had committed a disciplinary offence and imposed fines on them. 218. Suleiman Akyar, a Turkish refugee, was detained in Athens on 21 January 1991, on suspicion of being a drug dealer. Subsequently, he was taken to the KAT Hospital in Athens, where he was operated on for a ruptured small intestine. The hospital reportedly found fractures of three ribs, severe cranial and brain injury, extensive bruising on his body and injuries on his genitals. He died on 29 January. 219. The Government reported that the injury and death of Suleiman Akyar provoked the immediate response of the Ministry of Public Order and the competent police authorities. From the very first moment, all requirements for a detailed and objective judicial and administrative investigation of the case were ensured. The judicial investigation is being conducted by the 19th Regular Examining Magistrate of Athens. The administrative investigation revealed that Akyar's death was a result of the physical injury caused by the blows he received from the police who were defending themselves, using analogous means. However, it was considered appropriate that the judgement as to what constituted a necessary level of defence should be left to the judge. If the police involved in the incident are convicted, the corresponding severe disciplinary sanctions would also be imposed. 220. Vasilis Makrinitsas, Vasilis Makripoulias and Argyris Kavatas were punched, kicked and threatened with revolvers at the Security Police Station in Thebes on 7 April 1991. One of them had a cigarette put out on his face.