PSP Officer from Porto Santo Accused of Torture and Violation in Lisbon
Madeira GuideA PSP officer from Porto Santo has been accused of torture and violation by the Public Ministry. The accusations involve mistreatment of detainees, particularly vulnerable groups.
In a shocking development, an officer of the Polícia de Segurança Pública (PSP) originally from Porto Santo has been accused of heinous crimes involving torture and violation. The officer, along with another colleague, is alleged to have targeted vulnerable groups including drug addicts, homeless individuals, and illegal immigrants.
The Public Ministry (MP) has charged the officers with multiple crimes, including torture, abuse of power, violation, and physical assault. The accused officers, aged 21 and 24, were stationed at the Rato police station in Lisbon, where the alleged crimes took place.
These allegations came to light following an investigation by the PSP itself, which expressed deep regret over the conduct of its officers. The officers were detained last July after searches were conducted at their homes and the police stations in Bairro Alto and Rato.
Details of the accusations are harrowing. The officers are accused of physically abusing their detainees using punches, slaps, and blows to the head with gun butts. Disturbingly, some of these acts were filmed and shared with other officers via WhatsApp.
The case has sparked outrage, particularly as one of the accused, Guilherme Leme, is a native of Porto Santo. The other officer involved is Óscar Borges. Both are currently in preventive detention.
The incident has raised serious questions about the conduct of law enforcement in Portugal and has prompted a broader discussion on the treatment of vulnerable individuals within the justice system.
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