Violence against minors/ After the Helsinki Committee's denunciation, the Police send 3 officers for investigation

2025-04-24 10:56:00, Aktualitet CNA

Violence against minors/ After the Helsinki Committee's denunciation, the

The Helsinki Committee, in a reaction made yesterday, said that the parents of a 14-year-old boy have notified the AHC that their son was detained and raped by the State Police at police station no. 1 on April 12, 2025.

The Helsinki Committee's response states that AHC observers went to the police station premises and from the verifications carried out, it was found that the minor was accompanied to this police station and the escort report stated that the 14-year-old had a hematoma in his right eye.

The Helsinki Committee says in its announcement that it does not appear that the minor has been visited by any doctor.

Helsinki Committee Statement

"Investigate with priority and seriousness the physical violence exercised against the minor accompanied to the Police Station No. 1 (Tirana)
On 17.04.2025, citizens OZ and EG, residents of Tirana, parents of the 14-year-old minor JG, notified the Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) that on 12.04.2025 near the Kodra e Liqeni area of ??Tirana, their son JG was detained by the Police officers of the Police Station No. 1, Tirana because he was caught throwing capsules. In their complaint, they claimed that the police officers had exercised physical and psychological violence against their son.
To verify this complaint, on 22.04.2025, two AHC observers went to the Police Station No. 1. During this verification, it resulted that:
1. According to the examined documentation, The minor JG, born on 09.11.2010, on 12.04.2025, at 18:40, was escorted to the Police Station No. 1. The reason for the escort was the suspicion of disturbing the public peace and throwing pyrotechnics. The documentation noted that his parents were notified after the escort.
2. The Escort Report noted that the minor had a hematoma in the corner of his right eye. The reviewed documentation does not show that he had been seen by a doctor. The above fact was denied by the police officers. Although the hematoma was noted in the above-mentioned report, it did not result that the minor had been seen by the Commissariat doctor, contrary to the provisions of Chapter IV of the Standard Procedure “Treatment and security of persons arrested/detained in the premises of the State Police, recording and resolving their requests/complaints ”.

Today, a reaction to this event has also come from the State Police. The Tirana Local Police Directorate, in its announcement, says that in connection with the case and following the claims of the parents, disciplinary proceedings for serious violations have been initiated against three employees of the Police Commissariat No. 1.

Also for these three officers, the Police announces that it has referred the materials to the prosecutor's office for the initiation of investigations for the criminal offenses of "Committing arbitrary actions" and "Other intentional damage".

Police notification

Regarding a report by the Albanian Helsinki Committee, according to which a detained minor was raped while being held at the premises of Police Station No. 1, we would like to clarify:

On 12.04.2025, the services of the Police Commissariat No. 1 accompanied to the premises of this commissariat, the 14-year-old who claims to have been raped, on suspicion of having thrown pyrotechnics, in the Artificial Lake area, an action which was reported by the residents of the area, after it had caused panic and concern among them. The Police referred the materials for this citizen to the Prosecutor's Office, where his proceedings were decided at large, for the criminal offense of "Disturbance of public peace". A notice was given for this case in the daily summary of the Tirana district, on 13.04.2025.

Based on the claims of the minor's parents that he was raped while staying at the Police Station, by order of the Director of the Tirana Local Police Directorate, dated 13.04.2025, disciplinary proceedings have been initiated for serious violations, for:

-Inspector DM, officer of the General Patrol of Police Station No. 1;

-Inspector RD, officer of the General Patrol of Police Station No. 1;

-Deputy Commissioner Xh. B., specialist of the General Patrol and Order Section of Police Commissariat No. 1.

Also, the Police Supervision Agency, on 15.04.2025, referred the materials to the Prosecutor's Office, for the purpose of criminal investigation of 3 Police officers, for the offenses of "Committing arbitrary actions" and "Other intentional damage".

Meanwhile, the Directorate of Professional Standards, by order of the General Director of the State Police, has immediately launched an administrative investigation to verify whether the 3 Police officers have violated the powers and obligations assigned to them by the State Police regulation and standard work procedure.

We emphasize that the structures of the State Police and those of the Tirana Police are maximally committed to documenting with legal evidence the circumstances of this case and to react quickly, impartially and in accordance with the law, to bring those responsible to criminal responsibility./ CNA