E/CN.4/1991/17
page 46
which time neither Kim nor any of the members of his family raised the
issue of Kim's alleged torture. In the light of the aforementioned, it
is difficult to accept Kim's allegations of torture, and on
26 August 1990, Kim Chong-hwan, withdrew his complaint against the
military security officers from the Seoul Criminal District Court.
Consequently, it was concluded that the present case lacks factual basis
for initiation of a criminal proceeding against the named military
security officers.
Suh Kyung-won. His allegation of having been tortured seems to be aimed
at falsifying the confession he made to the prosecution, allegedly under
the pressure of torture. However, a few episodes during the
investigation of his case would instantly invalidate such an allegation.
During his interview of 19 August at the Seoul Detention Institution with
his attorneys including members of the National Assembly he also
clarified that he had never been forcibly administered medication though
he did complain about lack of sleep.
On this point, the first adjudication by the Seoul Criminal District
Court acknowledges that Mr. Suh had enough sleep during his stay with a
public prosecutor for interrogation and that he was interrogated in a
free atmosphere. As shown above, the charges made by Mr. Suh concerning
the alleged brutalities against him are inconsistent with each other.
Furthermore, the statements he made during the investigation turned out
to be true, not a false confession. Therefore, the complaint for alleged
torture is absolutely unacceptable.
Pang Yang-Kyun. During his interview with the lawyers of the prosecution
on 11 August 1989, Mr. Pang is reported to have admitted to the lawyers
criminal facts and made clear that he slept about six hours per day and
that he was never treated brutally. He also did not specify the
brutalities to which he alleged to have been subjected to the
prosecution. He also admitted to almost all the charges made against
him, which proves that his confession to the prosecution was not a forced
or false one."
Saudi Arabia
Letters and Government replies
141. On 6 June 1990 the Special Rapporteur addressed a letter to the
Government of Saudi Arabia transmitting a list of some 20 persons who were
recently sentenced to amputation of their right arm or hand after having been
convicted on various charges such as theft, larceny, gang robbery etc. Among
those sentenced to have their right arm amputated was Muhammad Kashi Ayash
Bin Zayd, a Yemeni national, who was convicted of robbery and theft. He had
his hand amputated on 29 September 1989. The list submitted to the Special
Rapporteur also included names of persons sentenced to imprisonment and
flogging (up to 800 lashes), for lesser crimes.
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