Heavy Penal Court releases the police officers in the investigation on torture of child

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The three police officers arrested in the scope of the investigation on the alleged torture of a 14-year-old in Lice, Diyarbakır on March 21 during the Newroz celebrations have been released. 

"Result of the policy of impunity"

Diyarbakır Bar Association posted a statement on its Twitter account and reminded that the Lice Penal Court of First Instance ruled before that it did not have jurisdiction over the case since the acts were in the scope of "torture." 

"Diyarbakır 1st Heavy Penal Court has, upon the objection made by the police officers, reversed this decision saying that the elements of the crime of torture were not present, and also released the three police officers by majority vote," the bar association wrote. 

The association argued that all elements of the crime of torture were present in the case file and that the reversing of the judgment, and the releases were the result of the policy of impunity that applies when allegations against public officers are concerned. 

What happened?

14-year-old Y.D. made a complaint stating that he was subjected to torture after he was taken on an armored vehicle by the police during the Newroz celebrations on March 21 in Lice, Diyarbakır, that he was forced to curse, that he was threatened with his life and that he was left near a river bed, his hands and feet tied up. 

The Diyarbakır Governorship had announced that the police officers were taken away from duty and that an administrative investigation was started. 

Three of the five police officers, İ. A., E. Ö., and G. B. had been arrested for "wilful injury" on March 26. 

The police chief A.O. and police officer H. Ç. had been released on condition of judicial control. (NT/PE)