- 10 14. In this context, the CPT wishes to refer to an allegation of ill-treatment by prison staff of an inmate at Korydallos Prison. This case was brought to the attention of the authorities by the CPT’s delegation in the course of its 2007 visit to Greece8. In a report by the deputy Prosecutor at the Piraeus District Prosecution Department9, it is stated that in order to prevent the inmate from swallowing two small packages of drugs, the prison officer “made certain moves to extract those packages from inside the mouth”. The public prosecutor was satisfied that the injuries10 that were subsequently sustained by the inmate were caused by a prison officer carrying out his duty; the officer could therefore not be punished. From the information at the disposal of the CPT, the Committee can only conclude that the investigation into this case was flawed. First of all, despite the prosecutor responsible for Korydallos Prison being informed in person on 24 February 2007, three days after the alleged illtreatment took place, it would appear from the report that the investigation relies on statements obtained more than eight months later. Further, from the report it also emerges that, as in other cases examined by the Committee, no proper forensic medical examination of this inmate was carried out, assessing the injuries sustained in the light of the allegations of ill-treatment. In the absence of such an examination it remains, for instance, unexplained how “certain moves to extract those packages from inside the mouth” may have caused bruises on the right mid-lower back and behind both ears of the inmate11. The CPT trusts that the recent instruction of the Prosecutor of the Court of Cassation will be rigorously applied and that allegations of ill-treatment will be investigated promptly, thoroughly and effectively. 15. The credibility of the prohibition of torture and ill-treatment is undermined each time officials responsible for such acts are not held to account. From the information available to the Committee, it would appear that much more needs to be done in this regard. As was the case during previous visits, the CPT’s delegation again received claims that allegations of ill-treatment, even when lodged with an investigative judge, were not being systematically followed up, including with an immediate forensic medical examination. For instance, in Thessaloniki, the CPT’s delegation met a young man who said that he had informed the investigative judge that he had been ill-treated, but that his allegation had been summarily dismissed. The detained man’s lawyer, who was present during the interview with the judge, confirmed his account. 8 9 10 11 See CPT/Inf (2008) 3, paragraph 46. See report of 15 September 2008 from the Deputy Prosecutor of Piraeus District Court Prosecution Department to the Piraeus Prosecutor at the Court of Appeals (ABM: C07/1918, D.O. - 07/251). Medical examinations carried out by both a doctor from the CPT’s delegation and a medical doctor attached to the prison indicated that the inmate has suffered the following injuries: Two purplish bruises behind the right ear (measuring 1.3 cm x 1.2 cm and 1 cm x 0.9 cm, respectively); a purple bruise behind the left ear (measuring 2.2 cm x 1.6 cm); two red bruises on the right mid-lower back (8.5 cm x 0.5 cm and 3.5 cm x 0.9 cm, respectively); and swelling and tenderness in relation to the left cheek bone (he was unable to open his mouth fully). On the minimum standards for a forensic medical examination, see CPT/Inf (2006) 41, paragraph 56.