Seeking Remedies for Torture Victims: A Handbook on the Individual Complaints Procedures of the UN Tready Bodies and was not interested in any of the author’s complaints about the abuse that had occurred, and seemed to be “going through the motions”. Despite evident bruises on areas of the author’s body that must have been visible to the medical examiner, such as on his face, neck and hands, as well as the traumatized state of the author, the doctor assessed the author to be in a fit and healthy condition (see Annex 11 for a copy of the Prison Doctor’s report). 9. On 27 September 2002, the author’s wife and two sons, and Mr. L, his lawyer, were notified that the author was being held in City Prison. Mr. L was notified that the author had been charged with the murder of a police officer under the National Security and Public Order Act 1994. On 28 September 2002, the author’s family and his lawyer visited him in City Prison. The author told both Mr. L and his family of the abuse that he had endured. It was evident to both the author’s family and to Mr. L that the author was in severe physical and mental distress. They noticed severe bruising on his forearms, his face and his neck and he appeared both anxious and depressed. 10. Due to the author’s evident physical and mental distress, on 28 September 2002, the author’s family and Mr. L submitted a request for the author to have an alternative medical examination (see Annex 12 for a copy of the request submitted to the prison authorities for an alternative medical examination). The prison authorities stated that the “comprehensive medical examination” conducted on 27 September 2002 provided incontrovertible evidence that the author did not suffer from either a physical or a mental illness (see Annex 13 for refusal of medical examination by prison authorities). Conditions at City Prison 11. The conditions in City Prison were not suitable for human habitation. City Prison is capable of housing four-hundred inmates, however at the time of the author’s internment, City Prison was housing six-hundred and fifty inmates. Prisoners awaiting trial, prisoners serving sentences, refugees and juvenile prisoners all shared the same facilities and were housed together. Up to fifteen prisoners were housed in cells measuring fifteen square meters together. There was one toilet and one sink in the corner of the cell which was not enclosed by a partition. Prisoners were not provided with a mattress or bedding, and they had to take turns sleeping as there was insufficient room to lie down. Metal shutters were placed in front of cell windows in order to prevent natural light and ventilation entering the cells. Prisoners were only allowed out of their cell for one hour a day. The author’s allegations in this respect are supported by a report on City Prison by the non-governmental organization, NGO, see Annex 14). NGO’s report details the testimony of numerous former inmates of City Prison over the period from 2000-2004, which includes the period of time that the author was imprisoned at City Prison. The report details allegations of severe overcrowding, as well as virtually identical descriptions of the cells and the other conditions of detention as those given by the author (see in particular pp 17-25 of that report at Annex 14). 12. In addition to the appalling prison conditions at City Prison, the author was also physically threatened and abused on numerous occasions by the prison guards, namely Mr P and Mr Q. For example, he was subjected to beatings about his head and torso unless he obeyed their orders immediately and without question. Some of the orders made were plainly for the purpose of aggravating the author. 13. The author conveyed his concerns about the prison conditions and the ill-treatment by the prison guards to Mr L, who submitted a formal complaint to the prison authorities on 5 November 2002 (see copy of complaint at Annex 15). The complaint detailed concerns regarding the conditions at City Prison, and about the treatment the author had received at the hands of Messrs P and Q. The author was interviewed one week later on 12 November by the prison governor, who expressed outrage at the ‘slanderous comments’ about the prison, and about two ‘fine 110