CAT/C/31/D/188/2001 Page 17 practices of interrogation and provisions relating to the holding8 and treatment of persons who have been arrested, detained or imprisoned.9 8.10 Concerning the allegations relating to administrative supervision and the social situation of Mr. Abdelli’s family, the State party explains that administrative supervision cannot be equated with ill-treatment under the Convention against Torture because it is in fact an additional punishment for which provision is made in article 5 of the Criminal Code. According to the State party, the application of this measure did not prevent the complainant from continuing to live a normal life, and in particular to pursue his studies following his release in 1994. It is pointed out that the fact that it was not possible for those studies to be completed could not constitute proof of alleged restrictions imposed within the framework of administrative supervision. According to the State party, the allegations of abuse are unfounded, and the summonses produced by the complainant do not constitute ill-treatment or an abuse of the administrative supervision procedure. In addition, the State party indicates that the summons dating from 1998 constitutes irrefutable evidence that the complainant’s allegations are false. It also maintains that the complainant’s family is not suffering from any form of harassment or restrictions, that the complainant’s mother is receiving a pension following the death of her husband, and that the family is living in decent circumstances. Observations by the complainant : 9.1 In his observations dated 20 May 2003, the complainant sought to respond to each of the points contained in the above observations by the State party. 9.2 Concerning the preventive arrangements for combating torture, the complainant considers that the State party has confined itself to listing an arsenal of laws and measures of an administrative and political nature which, he says, are not put into effect in any way. To support this assertion he cites reports prepared by the non-governmental organization “National Council for Fundamental Freedoms in Tunisia” (CNLT).10 8 Act No. 99-90 of 2 August 1999 amended and supplemented a number of provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, and in particular reduced the length of police custody to three days, renewable once only for a further three days. Under the Act, criminal investigation officers may not hold a suspect for more than three days; they must notify the public prosecutor, who may, by written decision, extend the length of police custody once only for a further three days. The criminal investigation officer must inform the suspect of the measure being taken against him and its duration, and his rights under the law, notably the possibility of undergoing a medical examination during his period in custody. The officer must also inform one of the suspect’s parents or children, brothers or sisters or spouse, as selected by him, of the measure being taken against him. These safeguards were further strengthened under the constitutional reform of 26 May 2002, which granted constitutional status to supervision of police custody by the judiciary, stipulating that this custodial measure could be imposed only by order of a court. 9 The Act of 24 April 2001 on conditions for the imprisonment and treatment of detainees strengthened safeguards for the protection of prisoners and provided for prisoners to be prepared for a working life by offering them opportunities for paid employment. 10 « Le procès-Tournant : A propos des procès militaires de Bouchoucha et de Bab Saadoun en 1992 », October 1992 ; “Pour la réhabilitation de l’indépendance de la justice», April 2000- December 2001.