E/CN.4/2001/66/Add.2 page 70 27. Jose Roberto Leite da Silva was reportedly arrested by police officers, in civilian clothes but heavily armed, in Pendegal on 24 August 1999. It is believed that he had witnessed some shootings on the street. He was allegedly kicked in the stomach and threatened with death. A 9-year-old boy who witnessed the incident is said to have been arrested at the same time. The boy’s head was covered with a bag and both were taken to an unknown location. It is believed that they were taken to the military police headquarters, where it is reported that Jose Roberto Leite da Silva was tortured to death. He was reportedly taken outside and given electric shocks. Wires were said to have been applied to his handcuffs. It is believed that he died the following morning. The boy was eventually released the same morning. The father of the victim tried to report the incident for two months, but police departments reportedly refused to register his statement. The boy is said to have recognized some of the officers allegedly responsible for the death of Jose Roberto Leite da Costa. The body of the latter was found on 26 August in Lusiana (200 km from Pendegal) and was buried without a name and registered as a homeless person. It was later exhumed. An autopsy revealed three bullet wounds in the face, as well as 30 injuries on the body, which confirmed that he had been tortured. His genitals had been reportedly cut off. According to the information received, on 9 September 1999, the Human Rights Commission of the Chamber of Deputies recorded the statement of the boy and forwarded the file to the public prosecutor’s office. The Governor is reported to have promised that the perpetrators would be brought to justice and that compensation will be paid to the victim’s father. Nine police officers, including the officer commanding the company, are said to be awaiting trial on charges of murder, torture, abuse of authority and misuse of police equipment. The father of the victim and the young boy are reported to have received death threats. The Special Rapporteur would be grateful to receive information about the outcome of those trials and on the measures taken to protect the witnesses, in particular the young boy who was believed to be in an orphanage under the protection of the State of Goías. 28. Sandro Perreira, from Padefe (Minas Gerais), was reportedly arrested by civil police officers at his father’s house in Lago Azul on 24 May 1999. At 4 a.m., persons later known to be police officers reportedly knocked on his door and called out his wife’s name. When he opened the door, they allegedly threw him on the ground and severely kicked him. No arrest warrant was reportedly presented to him. He was reportedly taken in a police car to the 6th district police station of Paranua, in the Federal District of Brasilia. Sandro Perreira asked what the arrest was about, but was said not to have been given any reason. In the police station, he was allegedly placed in a cell. Two or three hours later, he was reportedly taken into a little room, where he was tied up and handcuffed. The officer allegedly beat him, in particular on his ears (“telephone torture”). At 5.30 p.m., he was brought back to the same room where there was said to have been a wet mattress on the ground. He was reportedly forced to kneel on the mattress and was beaten again on his face and ears. The officers allegedly took off his handcuffs and forced him to take off his clothes. They then reportedly took two big bandages and tied up his face down to his neck and bound his feet together. Then they are said to have hung him upside down over a bucket full of water. Five police officers reportedly questioned him about a person he did not know. On several occasions, the rope was loosened and his head hung in the water. When he overturned the bucket, a police officer reportedly said that they had more water. When Sandro Pereirra stated that he did not know what the police wanted to know, the police allegedly started beating him on the back with a wooden stick. One police officer reportedly put him down on the wet mattress, placed implements on his thighs and covered his mouth. He was