E/CN.4/1995/34 page 116 606. Costel Covalciuc, from Dorohoi, was arrested on 29 June 1993 at his home by two police officers. The following day, after a summary court hearing, he was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment. On 4 July 1993 his family was informed that he had died that morning. Several members of the family reportedly went to the morgue and observed the body with blood-smeared hands and many bruises on the body, throat and temples. An autopsy was conducted and Covalciuc’s father was given a form completed by the coroner which stated that the death had been "non-violent" and that it had been caused by an acute cardio-vascular insufficiency. The military prosecutor of Ias ¸i who investigated the death concluded that the victim was not subjected to ill-treatment in detention and that external lesions could have resulted from "compression". 607. The Government replied that on 4 July, Costel Covalciuc had complained of severe chest pains and a doctor from Dorohoi hospital and inmates had attempted a heart massage. The doctor ordered him transferred to hospital, but he was pronounced dead on arrival. Because the cause of death was pronounced non-violent, the Ias ¸i military prosecutor’s office ordered that no criminal charges were to be brought in the case. However, reviewing the evidence, the military prosecution section of the General Prosecutor’s Office on 14 April 1994 ordered a complete investigation and the re-examination of the forensic report by the Superior Forensic Commission of the Central Forensic Institute. Further measures would be taken upon receipt of the results of the re-examination. 608. Viorel Baciu was arrested on 24 October 1988 and subsequently sentenced to several years’ imprisonment on what were alleged to be false charges brought because of his father’s activities as a member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Considering that the charges were groundless and essentially illegal, the General Prosecutor on 8 January filed an extraordinary appeal and suspended further execution of the prison sentence, but the appeal was rejected and Viorel Baciu was reimprisoned on 8 February 1993. Following his arrest he was taken to the police station in Suceava and allegedly subjected to torture in order to force him to confess to the crimes with which he was charged. In the course of the torture he was beaten while suspended by the legs and on the soles of the feet. From 6 to 12 December 1988 he had to be treated in the Jilava prison hospital, reportedly for coughing and spitting blood and other injuries sustained during the investigation. In the presence of the investigating prosecutor, as well as during the trial, he retracted his confession, which was nevertheless taken into consideration by the Supreme Court. 609. The Government replied that Viorel Baciu had made a complaint against a lieutenant colonel and other police officers but that the Ias ¸i military prosecutor’s office had ordered that no criminal charges be brought. On 28 April 1994 the military prosecution section of the General Prosecutor’s Office annulled the decision, finding it illegal and ungrounded, and ordered that charges be brought and the evidence produced. The case was pending.