- 38 He explained that one day after the alleged ill-treatment took place, his lawyer filed a complaint with the internal affairs department of the Thessaloniki Police, and members of this department interviewed the prisoner the following day. Immediately after the interview, the man was taken to a forensic doctor who examined him, the result of which was unknown to him. Apparently, the findings of the internal affairs department have been forwarded to the prosecutor. In parallel, upon the order of the Commander of the Thessaloniki Police Force, a senior police officer belonging to a different administrative entity within the Thessaloniki Police Force was charged with carrying out an internal Sworn Administrative Investigation against three police officers involved in the alleged ill-treatment44. However, some seven months after the alleged incident took place both proceedings remained pending. The CPT would like to be informed, in due time, of the outcome of the ongoing criminal and administrative proceedings in respect of this case. Case 2 During the visit to Korydallos Women's Prison, a 63 year old prisoner told members of the CPT’s delegation that she had filed a complaint concerning police ill-treatment with the prosecutor on 18 March 2010, who confirmed its reception on 6 June 2010. This woman claimed to have been beaten on several occasions while being interrogated at Alexander Street Police Headquarters between 2 and 6 March 2010. Her initial request for a medical forensic examination was said to have been dismissed by Alexander Street police officers and she was only seen by a doctor at Korydallos Women's Prison on 17 March 2010. After complaining of a headache, pain in both of her shoulders and difficulties to walk, she was referred to hospital; between 18 and 30 March 2010, she underwent several medical examinations, all of which proved inconclusive. From discussions with the prosecutor, the CPT’s delegation understands that an investigation into the allegation of ill treatment had been initiated. The CPT would like to be informed, in due time, of the outcome of any proceedings (criminal or administrative) in respect of this case. 86. The apparent contradiction between the number of allegations of police ill-treatment received by the CPT’s delegation and the low number of complaints filed by individuals against the police may well be explained by the barriers which deter persons from making such complaints. In interviews with both alleged victims and criminal lawyers, the CPT’s delegation was told that the fear of retribution dissuaded many persons from filing a complaint. In particular, the lawyers stated that they would advise against their clients filing complaints against the police as this might have a negative impact on their client’s case (i.e. a harsher prison sentence). 44 As the CPT has stated on several occasions, the way in which allegations of police ill-treatment are, at present, investigated in Greece do not satisfy the requirements of an effective investigation as reflected in the case law of the European Court of Human Rights. Nor do they meet the international standards laid down, inter alia, in the 1999 United Nations Manual on Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (‘Istanbul Protocol’). See in particular CPT/Inf (2010) 33, paragraph 27.