The justice system succeeds on behalf of a citizen who was beaten by a Police Colonel’s truncheon, causing a brain hemorrhage
A five year sentence for the use of cruelty and causing permanent injury
Al Nadeem Centre and the signatory organisations welcome the news of the judicial decision of 7 November 2009 from the Alexandria Criminal Court, which sentences Colonel Akram Ahmed Suleiman to five years imprisonment and awards temporary compensation of ten thousand and one Egyptian pounds, under the charge of the use of cruelty and causing permanent injury to Raga’i Mounir Sultan by using an implement (truncheon).
The incident dates back to 27/7/2008 when the aforementioned Colonel, a long with a force from Investigative Services were on a campaign, during which, Mr Raga’i Sultan was arrested as he was walking on the Corniche. He was taken to the Police Station where he was tortured and assaulted with a truncheon by Colonel Akram Suleiman. This led to him having a brain hemorrhage and other serious injuries on his body. He was taken to Al Amiri hospital and from there- after his brother learnt of the incident- his brother moved him to the German hospital, as his condition called for brain surgery and a stay in the intensive care unit.
It is important to note that the sentence given by Judge Fekry Kharoub for the imprisonment of the accused for five years is one of the severest sentences from the Egyptian judiciary concerning the torture of a citizen. In many of the previous cases where the defendants were police officers clemency was used to decrease their sentences leading to the punishment not fitting the crime committed. This is what has allowed the practice of torture and the use of force and cruelty against citizens to continue over the years.
We therefore welcome this sentence, which is considered a victory for victims of police brutality and for the people working to combat torture. We hope, that this decision leads to the reduction of the practice of torture by the police against citizens. We also hope that similar if not more severe sentences are made in all the cases going to trial, where victims are awaiting a degree of equity, a punishment which suits the abuses they were exposed to, which includes insults, physical injury and in some cases even death. A fair judgement such as this one gives us hope, in justice being achieved and proper application of the law. This will create some deterrence and will contribute in reducing the cases of torture and violence.
- Al Nadeem Centre for psychological rehabilitation of victims of violence and torture
- Hesham Mubarak Law Centre
- Egyptian Lawyers Freedoms Committee
- Seven Million Movement- Egyptian Disabled movement
- Centre for Socialist Studies
- Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights
- Dahayaa Centre for Human Rights
- The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information
- Association of Freedom of Thought and Expression