CAT/C/39/2
page 31
118. The Committee members visited the Baixa Fiscal delegacia in Salvador da Bahia, housing
individuals who had been involved with robbery and theft. Detainees indicated that they had
spent from 6 to 8 months in delegacias before coming to this facility. Six prisoners were housed
in each cell (4m by 3m and 10m high), which was not provided with lights or mattresses. It was
indicated that no medical care was provided. Prisoners spent 20 hours per day inside the cells,
with four hours in an open space, which was wet and dirty. As there were only five guards for
the facility during weekends, they were kept in for 24 hours. The facility was very cold, and one
block lacked drinking water. It was covered with rubbish and prisoners looked in poor shape,
with skin disorders. Hygienic conditions were extremely poor with up to 170 prisoners having no
sewerage. Food was also reported to very poor. Detainees were issued with only two pairs of
shorts and two T-shirts in order to ensure that they did not commit suicide. Detainees appeared
afraid to speak, because they feared violence and curtailment of visits and they indicated that
there was a punishment room which housed seven people. Eighty prisoners came from 500 km
away from Salvador, and had not been visited by their families.
119. The Committee members visited a delegacia called Pau de Lima in Salvador da Bahia. The
Committee members were informed that the facility covered a large number of neighbourhoods,
with many coming from Ilhéus, where there had been a riot and large-scale destruction of the
prison. Prisoners held here were being punished for what is called “crimes against heritage”,
“honour crimes”, and “blood crimes”. At that time only seven persons were detained in the
facility: these had been found guilty of drug smuggling, homicide or illegal possession of a
weapon. Detainees could be visited on Wednesdays, and during the week, they were generally
out in the patio, spending only the nights in their cells. During the weekends, when staffing was
lighter, they had less time outside the cells. There was no limitation on the number of clothes
detainees could have. While the State was responsible for food, relatives could also bring in food
and the detainees would receive this after security searches.
120. On visiting the cells, the Committee members found the facility to be less crowded.
However, it was very wet, with rain coming in from the roof, and there were no lights in the
cells. Detainees indicated that in the past there had been up to nine persons per cell and that after
the Ilieus incident a number of prisoners were transferred to this facility. Several indicated that
their families did not know they were there, despite the fact they had been there for over one
month. The families of these individuals were located over eight hours away. Several detainees
showed signs of eczema and hygiene conditions were unacceptable. Detainees’ accounts of the
time they are entitled to be in the patio outside the cells differed from the prison personnel. All
except one prisoner indicated that he had been beaten at the delegacia by police. The Committee
members also saw a graffiti which depicted “trying to stay alive in this hell”.
São Paulo
121. In São Paulo, the Committee members visited the provisional detention centre Pinheiros I
on 20 July 2005. There were 865 detainees although it can only accommodate 570. The centre
was very overcrowded and it would appear that detainees needed to take turns to sleep.
Detainees arrive at the centre as they are moved out of the delegacias. The Committee members
were informed that the centre had a videoconference room via which prisoners provided
evidence to court, thereby avoiding their transfer to court. There were a total of 12 guards. The
Committee members were informed that a riot had taken place recently, in March 2005, during
which two guards had been killed.
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