Ombudsman calls for immediate release of citizen with health crises, saying jail cell endangers his life

The Ombudsman has issued a response regarding the case of the citizen for whom allegations were raised that he had been abused inside the Security Block, clarifying that at this stage of the verification process there is no evidence proving the use of violence.

According to the institution, as soon as the report was received, four assistant commissioners were deployed on the ground. They first went to QSUT, but the citizen’s health condition made it impossible to interview him.

The verification group then continued its investigation at the Security Block, where testimonies were collected from staff and from other arrested individuals. After the citizen was transferred to the Trauma Hospital, his statement was also taken.

The Ombudsman says that the documentation gathered so far does not support the allegations of violence inside the Security Block. The verification also shows that the citizen went through several episodes of health crises linked to the illness from which he suffers.

The institution emphasizes that the citizen was interviewed the previous day as well and that, according to his written testimony, he made no claim of violence either at the moment of detention, during escort, while being held at the police station, or in the Security Block.

The verification process is still ongoing. The Ombudsman has requested that footage from security cameras in the areas where arrested persons are held be obtained, while the final conclusions will be made public after they are fully analyzed.

On the other hand, referring to the medical documentation and repeated health crises, the Ombudsman considers that the citizen’s stay in a cell poses a risk to his health and is contrary to the standards of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

For this reason, the institution has asked the Prosecution and the Court to urgently review the security measure and replace it with another one appropriate to the citizen’s health condition.