E/CN.4/1992/17
page 65
where he was severely beaten and later allegedly killed by officials.
Although the cause of death could not be determined, his body was said to be
covered with bruises, particularly on his chest, hips, back and head.
Portugal /
Letters
186. On 6 August 1991 the Special Rapporteur sent a letter to the Government
of Portugal transmitting information alleging that the conditions of detention
in the Vale de Judeus prison in Alcoentre, were extremely bad and that torture
was used. According to the source, 15 persons died in that prison in 1990
under circumstances which have not been clarified. The following cases were
transmitted to the Government:
(a) Manuel Tavares Mendonca, a prisoner from Cape Verde, was allegedly
subjected in April 1991 to various forms of torture, including beatings and
cigarette burns, while he was hanging with his feet and hands in the air and a
stone tied to his genital organs;
(b) Five German prisoners, Manfred Reffel, Günther Radtke, Udo Mayer,
Erich Klein and Werner Egner, were allegedly subjected to inhuman conditions
of detention and one of them, Günther Radtke, suffered side-effects of the
beatings he received in March 1990.
187. Two other cases of ill-treatment were brought to the attention of the
Government:
(a) Isidro Albuquerque Rodrigues, a metal worker from the town of
Amadora, close to Lisbon, was arrested on 26 June 1990 by members of the
Fourth Brigade of the Judicial Police and taken to their station in Setubal.
On the way there, the officers allegedly beat Rodrigues and when they arrived
at the station, a group of 10 to 12 officers of the Fourth Brigade questioned
him between 6 p.m. and 3 a.m. During the questioning he was kicked and
punched and beaten with a metal shower pipe. He was beaten over the ears and
jaws and had several teeth were broken. According to the source, in
October 1990 Mr. Rodrigues lodged an official complaint with the Prosecutor in
Setubal and asked for the officers of the Fourth Brigade of the Judicial
Police in Setubal who had beaten him to be identified and for criminal
proceedings to be instituted against them;
(b) Marcelino Baessa, from Cape Verde, was questioned on 10 August 1990
by a group of officers of the National Republican Guard who took him to their
station in Fort Almada. On arrival at the station he was kicked and punched
by a group of officers. He was also doused with a high-pressure water hose.
The next day he was released after appearing before a court in Almada.
On 12 August he received medical treatment at the District Hospital of Almada
for superficial injuries and bruises. According to the source, Mr. Baessa
lodged a formal complaint on 22 August 1990 with the Almada Prosecutor
demanding an inquiry into the circumstances of the incident and charging the
officers of the National Republican Guard with responsibility. According to
the source, the outcome of Mr. Rodrigues1 and Mr. Baessa's complaints are not
known.
Select target paragraph3
Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents