Violence and inhuman treatment are punishable

14.04.2004

Some days ago, Albanian Helsinki Committee, was reported by telephone by a person who didn’t want to be identified that  the so-called Luigj Vuçeta was in a serious health conditions, in the Police Station of Shkodra, due to the violence exerted by some law enforcement officials.

AHC charged his own correspondent in the district of Shkodra  to find evidence about this reporting. On the date April, 9, 2004, he first contacted the guardian and after that , with the connivance of Police Deputy-Director, also the detainee Luigj Vuçeta. After reviewing the register it resulted that Luigj Vuçeta was detained on the date  April 5, 2004, whereas on April 8, 2004, he was taken into custody. The physician of the Police Directorate of the District of Shkodra Mr. Sokol Preçi, called to give the first aid to Luigj, declared that after he was injected, he was sent to hospital to take a serum.

AHC correspondent in Shkodra had a meeting with Luigj Vuçeta in the “meeting room” where he was lying down in a blanket that replaced the stretcher. Asked about what had happened, he declared the following:

 “At the moment of arrest, some law enforcement officials hit me blows, kicked and hit me with the gun buts. The same acts were repeated during my way to the police station, whereas inside the police station I was tied to some iron bars and they went on hitting me.”

AHC correspondent observed  traces  having the color of coagulated blood in the left ear, wounds and scratches on both feet, skin damages on the head. Luigj Vuçeta complained about sharp pains on different parts of the body as he could barely stay seated.

AHC also considers worth-mentioning the claims of the law enforcement officials that were present at the meeting, that Luigji reacted at the moment of his arrest, that’s why violence was used. It goes without saying that the above claim needs investigation, but even if it were true there is evidence that its use has been exceeded.

 AHC publicly denounces this illegitimate act and it suggests to the prosecution bodies, that instilled by this occurrence as well as by the verbal request by Luigj Vuçeta himself,  this issue needs to be considered and investigated with priority and fairness.

AHC considers as worthy of being highlighted that  cases of violence use on the part of the law-enforcement officials, especially at the detention and escorting phase, have not been scarce, although measures have been taken in this direction.

No one is entitled to exercise physical violence or inhuman treatment to any citizen,  be him/her detained or arrested.

Such acts even though they are executed by special law enforcement officials, infringe the citizens rights and also the reputation of this body. That’s why it is necessary to take not only disciplinary measures, but depending on the case to prosecute these cases.