’WPCE ŽŁŃņJ’>ŚH~Ć“2Łž-¶Aˆ??Ų 9 S‹\ »~ś„Ś#‰.)®(l &FčŖ×TO%c7Kzdģ£{cĄČĘ©źzs5[2Bīh-ĢU,’Óš!ęO§ĒŃ·»‘ß!č¦č'ößm€]¦¹ł’KĘĶ ¾?BWįź>:eļŸvĪ3ėĆėS¹Ą!ĢŖ‹óÄŽÉ ·ObźĖsü”…HvFź1ųķ–5~õææ@'Ö®Š›»n¶ž„ĆŌslh”4AęjVÆa.@ÓĖ €TfD †#ŌćłĖĮŸXm°y˜ š•¦į¹Žõ}įŅ¼,ŲSńJÖŹRÅĖŁ &`ā«c¢?,ś†* ČZøP-żĒG§qk #ĮØUNi %· 0:½^ ÷w4* m,NC˜HP LaserJet 6P/6MP - Standard,ä,,,,,ä0(ÖĆ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(ūœ$””ŌUKUS.,Ō(uū* Äpģ* DocumeH¼œ3|x’U‹’ĄĄĄŻ ƒūœ!ŻŌUKUS.,ŌŻ  ŻŌ_Ōņ ņCOMMITTEE€AGAINST€TORTUREŠ ° ŠĢņņŌ_ŌBarakatŌ_Ō€v.€TunisiaóóŠ ą ŠĢCommunication€No€60/1996Š pĄ ŠĢ10€November€1999Š P   ŠĢCAT/C/23/D/60/1996Š 0 € ŠĢĢVIEWSó óŠ P  ŠĢĢņņņņSubmitted€byóó:€Ō_ŌKhaledŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌM'BarekŌ_Ō€Š Š  ŠĢņņAlleged€victimóó:€Ō_ŌFaisalŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌBaraketŌ_Ō€(deceased)€Š ° ŠĢņņState€partyóó:€Tunisia€Š ą ŠĢņņDate€of€communicationóó:€6€November€1996óó€Š pĄ ŠĢĢņņÓ  ÓThe€Committee€against€Tortureóó,€established€under€article€17€of€the€Convention€against€Torture€andŠ @ ŠOther€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,€Š 0€ ŠĢņņMeetingóó€on€10€November€1999,€Š ` ŠĢņņHaving€concludedóó€its€consideration€of€communication€No.€60/1996,€submitted€to€the€CommitteeŠ š@ Šagainst€Torture€under€article€22€of€the€Convention€against€Torture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€orŠ ą0 ŠDegrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,€Š Š  ŠĢņņHaving€taken€into€accountóó€all€information€made€available€to€it€by€the€author€of€the€communicationŠ °"  Šand€the€State€party,€Š  #š! ŠĢņņAdoptsóó€its€Š €%Š # ŠĢĢņ ņņņÓ  ÓViews€under€article€22,€paragraph€7,€of€the€Conventionóóó óŠ P( #& ŠÓÜÓĢĢ1.€The€author€of€the€communication€is€Mr.€Ō_ŌKhaledŌ_Ō€Ben€Ō_ŌM'BarekŌ_Ō,€a€Tunisian€national€currentlyŠ  +p&) Šresiding€in€France,€where€he€enjoys€refugee€status.€He€submits€a€written€authorization€from€Ō_ŌJamelŌ_ŌŠ ,`'* ŠŌ_ŌBaraketŌ_Ō,€the€elder€brother€of€Ō_ŌFaisalŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌBaraketŌ_Ō€(deceased),€to€act€on€his€behalf.€He€claims€that€Ō_ŌFaisalŌ_ŌŠ -P(+ ŠŌ_ŌBaraketŌ_Ō€and€his€family€are€victims€of€violations€by€Tunisia€of€articles€2,€11,€12,€13€and€14€of€theŠ š-@), ŠConvention.€Š ° ŠĢņņThe€facts€as€submitted€by€the€authoróóŠ ą ŠĢ2.1€The€author€affirms€that€Ō_ŌFaisalŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌBaraketŌ_Ō,€together€with€others,€was€arrested€on€the€morning€of€8Š pĄ ŠOctober€1991€by€members€of€the€Criminal€Investigation€Brigade€of€the€Ō_ŌNabeulŌ_Ō€National€Guard.€Mr.Š ` ° ŠŌ_ŌBaraketŌ_Ō€was€an€activist€in€the€Tunisian€General€Students'€Union€and€a€member€of€Al-Ō_ŌNahdaŌ_Ō,€anŠ P   Šunofficial€political€party.€He€knew€that€the€police€were€looking€for€him€and€had€therefore€gone€intoŠ @  Šhiding.€After€his€arrest,€during€which€he€was€beaten,€he€was€brought€to€the€headquarters€of€theŠ 0 € ŠBrigade€where€he€was€taken€to€the€office€of€Captain€Ō_ŌAbdelfattahŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌLadibŌ_Ō,€the€officer€in€charge.€Š  p  ŠĢ2.2€The€author€affirms€that,€according€to€the€account€given€by€fellow€detainees€of€Ō_ŌFaisalŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌBaraketŌ_ŌŠ P  Šwhom€he€reportedly€met€subsequently,€in€the€presence€of€the€captain€and€the€police€officersŠ š@  ŠŌ_ŌAbdelkrimŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌZemmaliŌ_Ō,€Mohamed€Ō_ŌKabbousŌ_Ō€and€Mohamed€Ō_ŌMoumniŌ_Ō,€as€well€as€Ō_ŌFadhelŌ_Ō,€Ō_ŌSalahŌ_Ō€andŠ ą0  ŠŌ_ŌTaoufikŌ_Ō€(last€names€unknown€to€the€author),€Ō_ŌFaisalŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌBaraketŌ_Ō's€hands€and€feet€were€immediatelyŠ Š  Šbound€and€he€was€suspended€between€two€chairs€on€a€big€stick,€with€his€head€down€and€the€solesŠ Ą Šof€his€feet€and€his€buttocks€exposed,€in€what€is€commonly€called€the€"roast€chicken"€position.€HeŠ ° Šwas€then€beaten.€Some€of€the€officers€later€threw€him€out€into€the€corridor€after€bringing€anotherŠ  š Šdetainee€into€the€office.€Ō_ŌFaisalŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌBaraketŌ_Ō€was€in€a€very€bad€way€and€seemed€to€be€dying.€The€officersŠ ą Šnevertheless€prohibited€the€30€or€so€detainees€present,€including€his€own€brother€Ō_ŌJamelŌ_Ō,€from€givingŠ €Š Šhim€assistance.€Š pĄ ŠĢ2.3€After€half€an€hour,€in€view€of€the€fact€that€he€was€no€longer€moving,€two€detainees€wereŠ P  Špermitted€to€lay€him€on€a€bench€and€untie€him.€When€they€discovered€that€he€was€dead,€they€toldŠ @ Šthe€guard€who€then€informed€his€superior.€The€detainees€were€then€separated€from€the€victim€andŠ 0€ Šconfined€to€one€side€of€the€corridor.€Finally,€two€male€nurses€from€Ō_ŌNabeulŌ_Ō€University€HospitalŠ  p Šarrived,€accompanied€by€the€general€superintendent€of€the€hospital,€who€supervised€the€removal€ofŠ ` Šthe€corpse.€Š P ŠĢ2.4€On€17€October€1991,€Ō_ŌHediŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌBaraketŌ_Ō,€the€father€of€Ō_ŌFaisalŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌBaraketŌ_Ō,€was€taken€to€Tunis€by€the€ChiefŠ ą0 Šof€the€Traffic€Brigade€and€was€informed€that€his€son€had€died€in€a€car€accident.€At€the€Charles€NicoleŠ Š  ŠHospital,€he€was€asked€to€identify€the€body.€He€noted€that€the€face€was€disfigured€and€difficult€toŠ Ą! Šrecognize.€He€was€not€permitted€to€see€the€rest€of€the€body.€He€was€made€to€sign€a€statementŠ °"  Šacknowledging€that€his€son€had€been€killed€in€an€accident.€His€other€son,€Ō_ŌJamelŌ_Ō,€was€still€in€prisonŠ  #š! Šat€that€time.€At€the€funeral,€the€police€brought€the€coffin€and€supervised€its€interment€without€it€beingŠ $ą" Šopened.Š €%Š # ŠĢ2.5€The€author€has€provided€the€Committee€with€a€copy€of€the€autopsy€report€drawn€up€by€DoctorsŠ `'°"% ŠŌ_ŌSassiŌ_Ō€and€Ō_ŌHallebŌ_Ō,€surgeons€at€Ō_ŌNabeulŌ_Ō€Hospital.€According€to€the€report:Š P( #& ŠĢą0  ąWe€the€undersigned,€[...]€appointed€under€order€No.€745€of€11€October€1991€by€the€Chief€ofŠ 0*€%( Šthe€Traffic€Unit€of€Ō_ŌMenzelŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌBouzelfaŌ_Ō€in€order€to€undertake€an€examination€and€autopsy€of€theŠ  +p&) Šcorpse€of€an€unknown€person€to€determine€the€cause€of€death:Š,`'*(#(# Šą0  ą€-€Bilateral€Ō_ŌmydriasisŌ_ŌŠ-P(+(#(# ŠŠ š-@), ŠŌ_Ōą0  ą-€Presence€of€bruises€[illegible]€the€left€cheek€bone,€the€lower€lip€and€the€chin€Š°(#(# ŠĢą0  ą-€Small€haematoma€under€the€scalp€on€the€left€temple€Šą(#(# ŠĢą0  ą-€Bruising€and€oedema€on€the€right€hand€and€the€back€of€the€right€forearm€ŠpĄ(#(# ŠĢą0  ą-€Bruising€and€abrasion€of€the€left€forearm€ŠP  (#(# ŠĢą0  ą-€Extensive€bruises€with€major€oedema€on€the€buttocks€Š0 €(#(# ŠĢą0  ą-€Bruises€and€abrasion€on€both€knees€Š` (#(# ŠĢą0  ą-€The€left€leg€displays€two€puncture€wounds€with€no€underlying€osteal€lesions€Šš@ (#(# ŠĢą0  ą-€Bruising€and€abrasions€on€the€left€leg€ŠŠ (#(# ŠĢą0  ą-€Bruising€on€the€soles€of€both€feetŠ°(#(# ŠĢą0  ąOn€autopsy:Šą(#(# ŠĢą0  ą*€Cranium:€absence€of€any€fracture€of€the€cranium,€absence€of€any€intracranial€orŠpĄ(#(# Šą0  ąintracerebral€haematoma€Š`°(#(# ŠĢą0  ą*€No€flooding€of€the€cerebral€ventricles€or€brain€displacement€Š@(#(# ŠĢą0  ą*€Lungs:€pulmonary€congestion€affecting€the€entirety€of€both€lungs,€leaving€only€twoŠ p(#(# Šą0  ąsegments€of€the€upper€lobe€of€the€left€lung€operational€Š`(#(# ŠĢą0  ą*€Systolic€cardiac€arrest;€heart€displays€no€vascular€or€valvular€lesions€Šš@(#(# ŠĢą0  ą*€Stomach€distended,€contains€no€food€ŠŠ (#(# ŠĢą0  ą*€Small€haematoma€of€the€pelvis€with€perforation€of€the€rectosigmoid€junctionŠ°" (#(# ŠĢą0  ąConclusion:Š$ą"(#(# ŠĢą0  ąDeath€would€appear€to€have€resulted€from€acute€respiratory€insufficiency€related€to€theŠ p&Ą!$ Šextensive€pulmonary€congestion.Š`'°"%(#(# ŠĢ2.6€The€author€has€also€provided€the€Committee€with€a€copy€of€the€report€drawn€up€in€February€1992Š @)$' Šby€Mr.€Derrick€Pounder,€Professor€of€Forensic€Medicine€at€the€University€of€Dundee€(UnitedŠ 0*€%( ŠKingdom)€at€the€request€of€Amnesty€International,€which€had€taken€an€interest€in€the€case.€ThatŠ  +p&) Šreport,€which€was€prepared€on€the€basis€of€the€autopsy€report,€indicated,€inter€alia,€that:Š ,`'* ŠĢą0  ąThe€pattern€of€injuries€described€in€the€autopsy€report€is€inconsistent€with€the€deceasedŠ š-@), Šhaving€died€in€a€road€traffic€accident€as€a€pedestrian,€pedal€cyclist,€motor€cyclist€or€vehicleŠ ° Šoccupant.€Š š(#(# ŠĢą0  ąThe€pattern€of€injuries€indicates€that€they€were€the€result€of€a€systematic€beating€by€one€orŠ €Š ŠmoreŠpĄ(#(# Šą0  ąother€persons.€Š` °(#(# ŠĢą0  ąThe€type€and€pattern€of€injuries€excludes€the€possibility€of€deliberate€self-infliction.€Š@ (#(# ŠĢą0  ąThe€autopsy€report€describes€a€'small€haematoma€of€the€pelvis€with€perforation€of€theŠ  p  Šrectosigmoid€junction'.€Such€an€injury€would€be€unlikely€to€occur€in€a€road€traffic€accidentŠ `  Šand€then€only€in€association€with€severe€fractures€of€the€pelvic€bones,€which€were€not€presentŠ P  Šin€this€instance.€An€injury€of€this€type€is€typically€the€result€of€the€insertion€of€a€foreignŠ š@  Šobject€into€the€anus.€The€production€of€this€injury€would€have€required€the€forcible€insertionŠ ą0  Šof€a€foreign€object€for€a€length€of€6€inches€or€more.€ŠŠ (#(# ŠĢą0  ąThe€perforation€of€the€rectosigmoid€junction€...€may€cause€sudden€death€as€the€result€of€shockŠ ° Šand€an€induced€abnormality€of€heart€rhythm.€Associated€with€a€sudden€death€by€thisŠ  š Šmechanism€would€be€extensive€pulmonary€congestion€(blood€overloading€of€the€lungs),€asŠ ą Šseen€in€this€case€[...].€Š€Š(#(# ŠĢą0  ąThe€autopsy€report€describes€no€injury€other€than€perforation€of€the€rectosigmoid€junctionŠ `° Šand€noŠP (#(# Šą0  ąnatural€disease€which€might€otherwise€account€for€the€death.€Š@(#(# ŠĢą0  ąThere€were€bruises€on€the€soles€of€both€feet.€Such€injuries€would€be€unusual€in€a€road€trafficŠ  p Šdeath€[...].€The€only€plausible€explanation€for€the€bruising€of€the€soles€of€the€feet€is€repeatedŠ ` Šblows€using€a€heavy€instrument€[...].€ŠP(#(# ŠĢą0  ąThe€autopsy€report€describes€extensive€bruising€with€major€oedema€(i.e.€swelling)€of€theŠ ą0 Šbuttocks.€Such€an€injury€pattern€would€be€extremely€unusual€in€a€road€traffic€accident€and,Š Š  Šif€present,€would€invariably€be€associated€with€fractures€of€the€underlying€bones,€which€wereŠ Ą! Šnot€present€in€this€instance.€The€only€plausible€explanation€for€the€bruising€to€the€buttocksŠ °"  Šis€repeated€blows€[...].€Š #š!(#(# ŠĢą0  ąIn€summary,€the€autopsy€report€reveals€that€this€man€died€as€the€result€of€the€forcefulŠ €%Š # Šinsertion€of€a€foreign€object€at€least€6€inches€into€the€anus.€Prior€to€his€death,€he€had€beenŠ p&Ą!$ Šbeaten€about€the€soles€of€his€feet€and€buttocks.€Other€scattered€injuries€to€the€body€areŠ `'°"% Šconsistent€with€further€blows.€The€entire€pattern€of€injury€is€that€of€a€systematic€physicalŠ P( #& Šassault€and€very€strongly€corroborates€the€allegation€of€ill-treatment€and€torture€that€has€beenŠ @)$' Šmade.€The€injury€pattern€as€a€whole€and€the€injuries€to€the€anus,€feet€and€buttocks€inŠ 0*€%( Šparticular€are€incompatible€with€involvement€in€a€road€traffic€accident€and€this€explanationŠ  +p&) Šfor€the€death€has€no€credibility€in€the€light€of€the€autopsy€findings."Š,`'*(#(# ŠĢ2.7€The€author€states€that€he€visited€the€two€principal€witnesses€to€Faisal's€death€(names€provided)Š š-@), Šsome€months€after€the€incident.€They€said€that€Faisal€had€died€in€their€arms€at€the€Brigade'sŠ ° Šheadquarters.€The€author,€a€trade€unionist,€was€himself€subsequently€arrested€on€15€May€1992€byŠ  š Šthe€same€Brigade€and€was€detained€at€the€same€location€as€the€victim.€He€was€sentenced€to€fiveŠ ą Šmonths'€imprisonment.€He€states€that€his€detention€gave€him€the€opportunity€to€meet€witnesses€toŠ €Š ŠFaisal's€death,€who€corroborated€what€the€first€witnesses€had€said,€namely€that€Faisal€had€died€underŠ pĄ Štorture.€After€his€release,€while€he€was€still€under€house€arrest,€the€author€left€Tunisia€and€wasŠ ` ° Šgranted€asylum€in€France.€Š P   ŠĢ2.8€The€author€has€provided€a€copy€of€a€report€dated€13€July€1992€by€the€Higher€Committee€forŠ 0 € ŠHuman€Rights€and€Fundamental€Freedoms€(Driss€Commission)€containing€the€following€referenceŠ  p  Što€the€Baraket€case:Š `  ŠĢą0  ąThe€investigating€commission€had€concluded,€in€its€report€dated€11€September€1991,€that€aŠ š@  Šnumber€of€deaths€had€occurred€in€obscure€and€suspicious€circumstances.€Šą0 (#(# ŠĢą0  ą[...]€ŠĄ(#(# ŠĢą0  ątwo€other€cases€came€to€light€after€the€Investigating€Commission€had€completed€its€work.€Š š(#(# ŠĢą0  ą-€concerning€Faisal€Baraket,€the€record€of€the€preliminary€investigation€indicates€that€he€metŠ €Š Šhis€death€in€a€road€accident.€This€was€reported€by€the€police€to€the€prosecutor's€office,€whichŠ pĄ Šentrusted€an€investigation€(No.€13458)€to€the€examining€magistrate€attached€to€the€Court€ofŠ `° ŠFirst€Instance€at€Grombalia.€ŠP (#(# ŠĢą0  ą[...]€Š0€(#(# ŠĢą0  ąWe€think€that€these€two€incidents€also€occurred€in€suspicious€circumstances€and€that,€in€spiteŠ ` Šof€the€fact€that€the€two€corresponding€cases€have€been€closed,€it€appears€that€new€evidenceŠ P Šhas€emerged€which€warrants€the€opening€of€a€new€inquiry€on€the€matter€in€accordance€withŠ š@ Šarticle€36€of€the€Code€of€Criminal€Procedure."Šą0(#(# ŠĢ2.9€The€author€claims€that€the€victim's€family€cannot€avail€itself€of€the€domestic€remedies€offeredŠ Ą! Što€it€in€Tunisia€because€it€fears€retaliation€by€the€police.€On€11€December€1991,€the€author€sent€anŠ °"  Šanonymous€letter€to€the€Prosecutor€of€the€Republic€in€the€town€of€Grombalia€in€which€he€reportedŠ  #š! Šthe€crime,€identified€the€victim€and€the€police€officers€responsible€and€specified€the€circumstancesŠ $ą" Šin€which€the€victim€died.€He€also€wrote€to€the€Minister€of€Justice,€his€deputies€and€the€national€andŠ €%Š # Šinternational€media.€However,€the€death€of€Faisal€Baraket€was€never€investigated.€Š p&Ą!$ ŠĢ2.10€From€October€1991€onwards,€non-governmental€organizations€such€as€Amnesty€International,ņņŠ P( #& Š1óó€the€World€Organization€against€Torture,€Action€of€Christians€for€the€Abolition€of€Torture€(France)Š @)$' Šand€the€Association€for€the€Prevention€of€Torture€(Switzerland)€also€requested€the€TunisianŠ 0*€%( ŠGovernment€to€investigate€the€death.€However,€the€Government€has€always€maintained€that€the€deathŠ  +p&) Šresulted€from€a€road€accident.€Š ,`'* ŠĢ2.11€In€a€judgement€dated€2€October€1996,€the€Tunis€Appeal€Court€awarded€damages€amounting€toŠ š-@), Š12,000€dinars€to€the€Baraket€family€in€compensation€for€Faisal's€death€in€a€road€accident.€TheŠ ° Šcontent€of€the€verdict€was€communicated€to€the€family€by€a€lawyer,€Mohamed€El€Marhoul,€whoŠ  š Šaffirmed€in€his€letter€that€it€was€the€father€of€Faisal€Baraket€who€had€initially€commissioned€him€toŠ ą Šact€in€that€matter.€However,€the€author€emphasizes€that,€contrary€to€the€said€lawyer's€affirmation,€theŠ €Š ŠBaraket€family€had€never€instituted€proceedings€in€that€regard.€Š pĄ ŠĢņņThe€complaintóóŠ P   ŠĢ3.1.€The€author€claims€that€the€Tunisian€Government€has€violated€the€following€articles€of€theŠ 0 € ŠConvention€against€Torture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment:Š  p  ŠĢą0  ąArticle€2,€paragraph€1:€The€State€party€not€only€failed€to€take€effective€measures€to€preventŠ P  Štorture,€but€also€concealed€the€facts€and€denied€that€acts€of€torture€had€been€committed.€Šš@ (#(# ŠĢą0  ąArticle€11:€The€Authorities€used€their€supervisory€powers€not€to€prevent€torture€but€to€hideŠ Š  Šthe€truth.€ŠĄ(#(# ŠĢą0  ąArticle€12:€The€State€party€claims€that€the€investigation€into€Faisal€Baraket's€death€wasŠ  š Šclosed€and,€although€it€promised€in€1992€that€it€would€reopen€the€case,€no€investigation€hasŠ ą Šbeen€conducted.€Š€Š(#(# ŠĢą0  ąArticle€13:€The€State€party€forced€the€victim's€father€to€sign€a€statement€acknowledging€thatŠ `° Šhis€son€died€in€an€accident,€while€keeping€his€other€son€Jamel€in€detention€for€six€monthsŠ P  Šafter€his€brother's€death.€Š@(#(# ŠĢą0  ąArticle€14:€The€State€party€still€denies€that€Faisal€Baraket€died€under€torture;€his€familyŠ  p Štherefore€cannot€claim€compensation.Š`(#(# ŠĢ3.2€The€author€also€affirms€that€the€police€officers€who€tortured€Faisal€Baraket€have€remained€inŠ š@ Štheir€posts€and€some€of€them€have€even€been€promoted.€Š ą0 ŠĢ3.3€The€author€repeatedly€expresses€his€concern€about€the€safety€not€only€of€the€Baraket€family€butŠ Ą! Šalso€of€the€witnesses€and€their€families€following€incidents€which€he€considers€to€be€related€to€theŠ °"  Špresentation€of€the€communication€to€the€Committee.€Š  #š! ŠĢņņProceedings€before€the€CommitteeóóŠ €%Š # ŠĢ4.1€In€its€decision€of€5€May€1995,€the€Committee€declared€the€author's€communication€No.€14/1994Š `'°"% Šinadmissible€on€the€ground€that€he€had€not€submitted€sufficient€evidence€to€establish€his€right€to€actŠ P( #& Šon€behalf€of€the€alleged€victim.ņņ€2óó€However,€the€decision€stipulated€that€the€Committee€could€receiveŠ @)$' Šand€consider€a€new€communication€submitted€by€any€person€whose€right€to€act€had€been€dulyŠ 0*€%( Šestablished.€Š  +p&) ŠĢ4.2€On€6€November€1997,€the€author€submitted€a€new€communication,€which€the€CommitteeŠ -P(+ Štransmitted€to€the€State€party€on€23€January€1997€under€No.€60/1996€in€which€the€CommitteeŠ š-@), Šrequested€the€State€party€to€ensure€that€the€author€and€his€family,€the€alleged€victim's€family€and€theŠ ° Šwitnesses€and€their€families€were€not€subjected€to€any€ill-treatment.€Š  š ŠĢņņObservations€of€the€State€party€concerning€admissibilityóóŠ €Š ŠĢ5.1€The€State€party€maintains€that€the€communication€contains€comments€that€are€insulting€andŠ ` ° Šinjurious€to€the€Tunisian€State€and€its€institutions€and€are€obviously€politically€motivated,€therebyŠ P   Šconstituting€an€abuse€of€the€right€to€submit€such€communications.€It€further€indicates€that€theŠ @  Šdomestic€remedies€have€not€been€exhausted.€Š 0 € ŠĢ5.2€The€State€party€objects€to€the€Committee's€request€to€take€measures€to€protect€Mr.€Jamel€BaraketŠ `  Šand€his€family,€considering€that€request€as€implying€that€the€Committee€has€already€taken€a€decisionŠ P  Šon€the€question€of€the€admissibility€of€the€communication.€Š š@  ŠĢ5.3€The€State€party€expresses€doubts€concerning€the€authenticity€of€the€power€of€attorney€grantedŠ Š  Što€the€author€by€Jamel€Baraket,€the€alleged€victim's€brother.€In€that€regard,€it€points€out€that,€in€hisŠ Ą Šfirst€communication,€the€author€submitted€a€power€of€attorney€from€the€alleged€victim's€fatherŠ ° Šalthough€the€latter€had€made€an€authenticated€statement€to€the€Government€in€which€he€deniedŠ  š Šhaving€granted€such€power€of€attorney.€Š ą ŠĢ5.4€The€State€party€submits€that€the€author's€undeclared€aims€are€political€and€that€he€belongs€to€anŠ pĄ Šextremist€movement,€on€account€of€which€he€was€sentenced€to€three€months'€imprisonment€inŠ `° ŠTunisia.€Š P  ŠĢ5.5€Concerning€the€exhaustion€of€domestic€remedies,€the€State€party€disputes€the€author's€claim€thatŠ 0€ Šremedies€either€do€not€exist€or€are€ineffective.€According€to€the€Penal€Code,€the€statutory€time€limitŠ  p Šfor€criminal€prosecution€is€10€years€and€the€public€right€of€action€is€therefore€not€extinguished.Š ` ŠMoreover,€that€time€limit€can€also€be€suspended€or€reset€whenever€a€new€investigation€is€opened.Š P ŠThe€Office€of€the€Public€Prosecutor€had,€on€its€own€initiative,€twice€reopened€a€judicial€investigationŠ š@ Šand€could€order€a€reopening€of€the€investigation€at€any€time€whenever€it€was€notified€of€newŠ ą0 Ševidence€or€developments€that€might€help€to€discover€the€truth.€Š Š  ŠĢ5.6€The€State€party€indicates€that€the€alleged€victim's€father€brought€a€civil€action€for€damages€inŠ °"  Šconnection€with€his€son's€death€in€a€hit-and-run€accident.€The€claimant€in€that€case€was€representedŠ  #š! Šby€Mr.€Mohamed€Ahmed€El€Marhoul.€In€a€judgement€dated€9€October€1995,€the€Court€of€FirstŠ $ą" ŠInstance€at€Grombalia€ordered€the€Chief€of€the€State€Litigation€Department€(as€the€legalŠ €%Š # Šrepresentative€of€the€Compensation€Fund€for€the€Victims€of€Traffic€Accidents)€to€pay€a€sum€ofŠ p&Ą!$ Š10,000€dinars€to€the€alleged€victim's€father€in€compensation€for€the€mental€pain€and€anguish€that€heŠ `'°"% Šhad€suffered.€On€2€October€1996,€the€Court€of€Appeal€upheld€that€judgement€and€increased€theŠ P( #& Šamount€of€compensation€to€12,000€dinars.€Š @)$' ŠĢ5.7€The€State€party€maintains€that€the€alleged€victim's€beneficiaries€are€completely€free€to€availŠ  +p&) Šthemselves€of€the€domestic€remedies€before€the€Tunisian€courts€without€the€risk€of€any€threat€or€actŠ ,`'* Šof€reprisal,€contrary€to€the€author's€allegations.€However,€although€they€instructed€a€lawyer€to€defendŠ -P(+ Štheir€interests€before€the€Tunisian€courts,€they€have€shown€no€interest€in€taking€this€matter€outsideŠ š-@), Šthe€domestic€channels€of€recourse.€Š ° ŠĢņņComments€by€the€authoróóŠ ą ŠĢ6.1€The€author€refers€to€the€Committee's€request€to€the€State€party€to€ensure€the€safety€of€theŠ pĄ Šwitnesses€and€their€families€and€notes€that€the€wife€of€one€of€the€witnesses€has€been€in€prison€sinceŠ ` ° Š23€May€1996€on€political€charges€relating€to€meetings€allegedly€held€in€1989,€even€though€she€is€aŠ P   Šsimple€housewife.€Š @  ŠĢ6.2€The€author€denies€belonging€to€an€extremist€movement€or€acting€on€behalf€of€anyone€exceptŠ  p  ŠJamel€Baraket€and€his€family.€He€has€presented€the€Committee€with€a€power€of€attorney€dated€5Š `  ŠDecember€1994,€signed€by€the€victim's€father€and€confirmed€on€7€November€1995€by€the€brotherŠ P  Šwhen€the€father's€health€had€deteriorated.€He€maintains€that€Jamel€Baraket€is€the€person€legallyŠ š@  Šresponsible€for€his€family,€that€he€has€a€close€relationship€with€him,€that€Jamel's€letters€are€authenticŠ ą0  Šand€that€the€State€party€has€not€proved€the€documents€to€be€forgeries.€Š Š  ŠĢ6.3€The€author€emphasizes€the€fact€that€domestic€remedies€cannot€be€exhausted€because€of€the€riskŠ ° Šof€reprisals.€He€refers€to€the€inquiries€that€have€been€opened€and€subsequently€closed€by€the€OfficeŠ  š Šof€the€Public€Prosecutor€and€claims€that€no€serious€criminal€proceedings€were€ever€instituted.€Š ą ŠĢ6.4€With€regard€to€the€civil€proceedings,€the€author€points€out€that,€by€law,€in€order€to€lodge€anŠ pĄ Šappeal€against€the€State€Litigation€Department€under€the€terms€of€the€legislation€concerning€theŠ `° ŠCompensation€Fund€for€the€Victims€of€Road€Accidents,€anyone€filing€a€complaint€against€anŠ P  Šunidentified€culprit€must€first€of€all:€(i)€have€filed€a€claim€for€damages€with€the€Fund€not€later€thanŠ @ Šone€year€after€the€accident€in€question;€(ii)€have€reached€a€settlement€with€the€Fund€or,€failing€suchŠ 0€ Šsettlement,€have€filed€a€complaint€against€it.€In€the€case€in€question,€in€the€absence€of€a€complaintŠ  p Šor€a€judgement€no€prosecution€was€possible.€Š ` ŠĢ6.5€He€also€claims€that€the€father€did€not€commission€any€lawyer€and€that€the€family,€including€hisŠ š@ Šclient€Jamel€Baraket,€never€recognized€the€action€for€damages€that€was€brought€on€behalf€of€Mr.Š ą0 ŠHedi€Baraket.€However,€they€were€forced€to€put€up€with€it€in€order€to€protect€themselves€against€theŠ Š  Šreactions€of€those€who€had€brought€the€action€in€their€name€with€a€view€to€presenting€it€to€theŠ Ą! ŠCommittee€as€an€operative€domestic€remedy.€The€author€notes€that,€in€practice,€proceedings€of€thatŠ °"  Štype€very€rarely€succeed€and,€when€they€do,€it€is€only€after€many€years.€However,€the€Baraket€caseŠ  #š! Šwas€heard€in€two€years,€including€the€appeal,€which€is€astonishing.€Š $ą" ŠĢņņDecision€of€the€Committee€on€admissibilityóóŠ p&Ą!$ ŠĢ7.1€The€Committee€considered€the€admissibility€of€the€communication€at€its€nineteenth€session€andŠ P( #& Šby€its€decision€of€17€November€1997€found€it€to€be€admissible.€Š @)$' ŠĢ7.2€The€Committee€referred€to€article€22,€paragraph€1,€of€the€Convention€and€to€rule€107,€paragraphŠ  +p&) Š1€(b),€of€its€rules€of€procedure,€which€allow€a€communication€to€be€submitted€on€behalf€of€an€allegedŠ ,`'* Švictim€if€the€author€can€justify€acting€on€his€behalf.€The€Committee€found€that€the€author,€havingŠ -P(+ Šsubmitted€a€written€authorization€signed€by€the€brother€of€the€alleged€victim,€had€duly€establishedŠ š-@), Šhis€right€to€represent€the€alleged€victim's€family€before€the€Committee.€In€this€regard,€the€CommitteeŠ ° Šnoted€that€the€State€party€had€expressed€doubts€about€the€genuineness€of€the€written€authorizationŠ  š Šbut€had€not€presented€sufficient€evidence€to€conclude€that€the€document€signed€by€the€allegedŠ ą Švictim's€brother€was€a€forgery.Š €Š ŠĢ7.3€Concerning€the€exhaustion€of€domestic€remedies,€the€Committee€found€that€the€State€party€hadŠ ` ° Šnot€given€sufficient€details€about€the€criminal€proceedings€that€could€be€taken€in€order€to€establishŠ P   Šwhether€the€remedies€would€be€effective.€It€noted€that,€although€criminal€proceedings€had€beenŠ @  Šinitiated,€the€file€had€been€closed.€It€also€noted€that€the€reports€to€the€effect€that€the€Tunisian€courtsŠ 0 € Šhad€awarded€damages€to€the€family€in€compensation€for€the€accident€of€which€Faisal€Baraket€wasŠ  p  Ša€victim€placed€in€doubt€the€existence€of€an€effective€remedy€based€on€a€complaint€of€torture.€TheŠ `  ŠCommittee€therefore€found€that€it€was€not€prevented€from€considering€the€communication€by€articleŠ P  Š22,€paragraph€5€(b),€of€the€Convention.€Š š@  ŠĢ7.4€The€Committee€had€ascertained,€as€it€was€required€to€do€under€article€22,€paragraph€5€(a),€of€theŠ Š  ŠConvention,€that€the€same€matter€had€not€been€and€was€not€being€examined€under€another€procedureŠ Ą Šof€international€investigation€or€settlement.€Š ° ŠĢņņState€party's€observations€on€the€merits€of€the€communicationóóŠ ą ŠĢ8.1€The€State€party€regrets€the€Committee's€decision€to€find€the€communication€admissible€and€notesŠ pĄ Šthe€questionable€nature€of€the€arguments€advanced€to€justify€this€decision.€Faisal€Baraket's€familyŠ `° Šconsists€of€his€mother€and€five€brothers,€including€Jamel€Baraket.€As€has€already€been€observed,Š P  ŠFaisal€Baraket's€father,€while€he€was€still€alive,€refused€to€authorize€the€author€of€the€communicationŠ @ Što€bring€legal€proceedings€of€any€kind.€The€legal€representation€which€is€required€in€a€matter€asŠ 0€ Šserious€as€alleged€murder€necessitates€that€authority€to€bring€proceedings€before€the€CommitteeŠ  p Šshould€be€granted€by€all€of€the€alleged€victim's€next€of€kin.€An€allegation€made€by€one€person€outŠ ` Šof€eight€is€not€sufficient€to€raise€serious€doubt€about€the€cause€of€death.€Š P ŠĢ8.2€Moreover,€it€appears€that€the€Committee€is€prepared€to€admit€that€the€author€of€theŠ ą0 Šcommunication€is€not€entitled€to€bring€proceedings€unless€the€Tunisian€Government€can€prove€thatŠ Š  Šthe€power€of€attorney€signed€by€the€alleged€victim's€brother€is€a€forgery.€Such€a€requirement€isŠ Ą! Šinconsistent€with€the€smooth€operation€of€an€objective€procedure€designed€exclusively€to€discoverŠ °"  Šthe€truth€on€the€basis€of€solid€and€corroborating€evidence.€In€this€instance,€the€Committee€itselfŠ  #š! Šwould€seem€to€be€in€the€best€position€to€verify€the€authenticity€of€the€documentation€transmitted€toŠ $ą" Šit.€Š €%Š # ŠĢ8.3€The€State€party€has€submitted€the€following€facts€concerning€the€death€of€Faisal€Baraket€on€aŠ `'°"% Šnumber€of€occasions.€Š P( #& ŠĢ8.4€On€11€October€1991€an€anonymous€telephone€caller€informed€the€National€Guard€station€atŠ 0*€%( ŠMenzel€Bouzelfa€that€there€had€been€a€road€traffic€accident€on€route€26€between€Ghrabi€andŠ  +p&) ŠGrombalia.€Police€officers€found€the€victim€alive€at€the€scene.€He€was€taken€to€Nabeul€regionalŠ ,`'* Šhospital€but€died€the€same€day.€His€identity€remained€a€mystery€for€four€days,€until€fingerprintŠ -P(+ Šidentification€on€15€October€1991€revealed€him€to€be€Faisal€Baraket.€The€autopsy€report€found€theŠ š-@), Šcause€of€death€to€be€acute€respiratory€insufficiency€related€to€extensive€pulmonary€congestion.€Š ° ŠĢ8.5€Following€referral€of€the€case,€the€Public€Prosecutor's€Office€began€a€manslaughter€investigationŠ ą Šagainst€X€on€6€November€1991€in€connection€with€the€hit-and-run€road€traffic€accident.€On€30€MarchŠ €Š Š1992,€given€the€impossibility€of€identifying€the€culprit,€the€examining€magistrate€ordered€the€caseŠ pĄ Što€be€closed€until€further€notice.€Š ` ° ŠĢ8.6€On€15€October€1992€the€Tunisian€Ministry€of€Foreign€Affairs€sent€a€letter€to€AmnestyŠ @  ŠInternational€stating€that€"with€regard€to€the€case€of€Faisal€Baraket€...€the€reopening€of€which€hadŠ 0 € Šbeen€requested€by€the€'Driss€Commission'€and€your€own€organization,€the€Tunisian€authorities€haveŠ  p  Šforwarded€to€the€Public€Prosecutor€attached€to€the€Court€of€First€Instance€at€Grombalia€the€medicalŠ `  Šreport€which€you€transmitted€to€the€Government".€The€Public€Prosecutor's€Office€ordered€the€caseŠ P  Što€be€reopened€on€22€September€1992.€Š š@  ŠĢ8.7€Pursuant€to€the€examining€magistrate's€decision€to€order€a€new€expert€medical€opinion,€threeŠ Š  Šprofessors€of€forensic€medicine€including€Dr.€Ghachem€were€appointed€to€examine€the€content€ofŠ Ą Šthe€autopsy€report€and€the€conclusions€put€forward€by€Professor€Pounder.€Their€report,€a€copy€ofŠ ° Šwhich€has€been€forwarded€to€the€Committee,€states€that€"the€autopsy€report€fails€to€mention€theŠ  š Špresence€of€any€traumatic€lesion€to€the€anus€itself.€Yet€the€forced€introduction€of€a€foreign€bodyŠ ą Šunavoidably€leaves€lesions€in€the€area€of€the€anus€and€sphincter.€The€autopsy€report€[...]€refers€to€theŠ €Š Špresence€of€superficial€lesions€and€a€visceral€lesion.€None€of€the€lesions€described€in€the€reportŠ pĄ Špermits€the€cause€of€injury€to€be€accurately€determined.€The€description€of€the€lesions€is€very€vagueŠ `° Šand€incomplete€and€does€not€help€to€determine€their€origin.€The€conclusions€reached€by€ProfessorŠ P  ŠPounder€cannot€therefore€be€substantiated€since€they€are€not€based€on€objective€facts,€the€lesionsŠ @ Šreferred€to€in€the€report€being€of€a€very€imprecise€nature".€Once€again,€the€case€was€closed€for€lackŠ 0€ Šof€evidence.€Š  p ŠĢ8.8€Following€the€submission€of€communication€No.€14/1994€to€the€Committee,€the€PublicŠ P ŠProsecutor's€Office€attached€to€the€Court€of€First€Instance€at€Grombalia€ordered€the€case€to€beŠ š@ Šreopened.€The€examining€magistrate€immediately€proceeded€to€examine€the€persons€named€by€theŠ ą0 Šauthor.€Mr.€Hedi€Baraket€stated€that€he€did€not€know€the€author,€nor€had€he€ever€met€him;€he€alsoŠ Š  Šdenied€the€allegations€contained€in€the€communication.€A€deposition€to€this€effect€was€signed€by€Mr.Š Ą! ŠHedi€Baraket€and€forwarded€to€the€Committee.€Three€so-called€witnesses€who,€according€to€theŠ °"  Šauthor,€were€purportedly€present€at€the€death€of€Faisal€Baraket€have€denied€knowing€either€the€authorŠ  #š! Šor€the€alleged€victim,€and€they€further€deny€having€witnessed€scenes€of€torture.€A€fourth€individualŠ $ą" Šstated€that€he€was€bribed€by€the€author.€In€exchange€for€a€sum€of€money,€he€agreed€to€make€a€tapeŠ €%Š # Šrecording€of€a€text€prepared€by€the€author.€Finally,€the€general€superintendent€at€Nabeul€HospitalŠ p&Ą!$ Šstated€that€he€had€never€gone€to€the€police€station€to€help€the€victim.€The€examining€magistrateŠ `'°"% Štherefore€decided€that€there€were€no€grounds€for€pursuing€the€matter.€Š P( #& ŠĢ8.9€Faisal€Baraket's€relatives€have€never€sued€for€damages€in€civil€proceedings.€For€this€reason,€theyŠ 0*€%( Šhave€never€contested€the€two€decisions€to€close€the€case.€Furthermore,€article€5€of€the€Tunisian€CodeŠ  +p&) Šof€Criminal€Procedure€stipulates€that€the€statutory€time€limit€for€criminal€prosecution€is€10€yearsŠ ,`'* Šfrom€the€date€of€commission€of€the€offence€charged.€This€period€may€be€suspended€or€resetŠ -P(+ Šwhenever€a€new€inquiry€is€opened.€Relatives€are€entitled€to€submit€new€material€of€any€kind€in€orderŠ š-@), Što€persuade€the€Public€Prosecutor's€Office€to€reopen€the€judicial€investigation.€Š ° ŠĢ8.10€The€State€party€indicates€that€on€16€November€and€10€December€1991€Faisal€Baraket's€parentsŠ ą Šfiled€separate€applications€with€the€Grombalia€Public€Prosecutor's€Office€challenging€the€arbitraryŠ €Š Šdetention€and€disappearance€of€their€son€Jamel€Baraket.€Both€of€these€applications€were€successful.Š pĄ ŠGiven€they€were€able€to€take€such€steps€without€incurring€the€reprisals€predicted€by€the€author,€byŠ ` ° Šthe€same€token€they€were€entirely€at€liberty€to€raise€the€matter€of€Faisal€Baraket€had€they€beenŠ P   Šconvinced€that€he€had€been€tortured€to€death.€But€no€complaint€of€torture€has€ever€been€filed€withŠ @  Šthe€Tunisian€courts.€The€criminal€investigations€to€discover€the€truth€in€this€matter€have€beenŠ 0 € Šinitiated€by€the€Public€Prosecutor's€Office.€Š  p  ŠĢ8.11€The€State€party€reports€that€the€Ministry€of€Foreign€Affairs€has€requested€the€Ministry€of€PublicŠ P  ŠHealth€to€commission€a€second€report€from€Professor€Ghachem€on€the€conclusions€of€his€initialŠ š@  Šreport.€This€second€report,€a€copy€of€which€has€been€sent€to€the€Committee,€states€that:€"While€it€isŠ ą0  Štrue€that€the€description€of€the€lesions€referred€to€in€the€autopsy€report€is€imprecise€and€their€originŠ Š  Šis€not€explained,€it€is€nevertheless€the€case€that€the€conclusions€reached€by€Professor€Pounder€areŠ Ą Šnot€based€on€objective€forensic€evidence.€This€is€because€the€forced€introduction€of€a€foreign€bodyŠ ° Šinto€the€anus€leaves€obvious€marks€in€this€area€[...].€The€autopsy€report€makes€no€mention€of€anyŠ  š Štraumatic€lesions€to€the€anus.€[...]€Nevertheless,€I€am€also€of€the€opinion€that€an€exchange€of€viewsŠ ą Šand€a€discussion€with€Professor€D.J.€Pounder€and€Professor€S.€Sassi€regarding€this€case€would€beŠ €Š Švery€useful.€Š pĄ ŠĢ8.12€The€State€party€has€also€provided€a€French€translation€of€an€excerpt€from€a€sworn€depositionŠ P  Šmade€by€Dr.€Sassi€before€the€examining€magistrate.€The€relevant€passage€reads:€"It€has€beenŠ @ Šascertained€that€there€was€a€rupture€of€the€large€intestine€in€the€area€of€the€pelvis€and€the€infiltrationŠ 0€ Šof€waste€products€from€the€large€intestine€into€the€body€caused€a€blood€infection€which€in€turn€ledŠ  p Što€insufficiency€of€the€respiratory€apparatus,€the€direct€cause€of€death.€Dr.€Sassi€explained€to€us€thatŠ ` Šthe€rupture€of€the€large€intestine€was€due€to€an€acute€traumatism€which€could€have€resulted€from€theŠ P Šcollision€between€the€victim€and€a€solid€body.€This€could€have€been€the€result€of€a€road€trafficŠ š@ Šaccident€involving€a€motor€vehicle.€Š ą0 ŠĢ8.13€Regarding€the€question€of€civil€proceedings,€the€State€party€emphasizes€that€Faisal€Baraket'sŠ Ą! Šfather€did€indeed€bring€a€civil€action€for€damages€in€connection€with€his€son's€death€in€a€road€trafficŠ °"  Šaccident;€from€March€1995€he€was€represented€in€this€action€by€Mr.€Ahmed€El€Marhoul.€TheŠ  #š! Šjudgement€in€this€case€became€final€and€enforceable€following€an€appeal€by€the€parties.€CounselŠ $ą" Šproceeded€to€enforce€the€judgement.€The€author€has€provided€no€convincing€explanation€as€to€whyŠ €%Š # Šone€of€the€beneficiaries€has€received€the€sum€due€to€him,€thereby€unambiguously€indicating€that€Mr.Š p&Ą!$ ŠMarhoul€has€performed€his€proper€function.€Š `'°"% ŠĢ8.14€The€State€party€takes€issue€with€the€Committee's€contention€in€its€decision€on€admissibility€thatŠ @)$' Šinsufficient€details€were€provided€regarding€the€criminal€proceedings€that€may€be€taken.€The€StateŠ 0*€%( Šparty€stresses€that€it€has€submitted€detailed€records€of€the€proceedings€and€investigations€conductedŠ  +p&) Šon€two€occasions€by€the€competent€examining€magistrate.€It€is€astonished€to€find€that,€in€theŠ ,`'* ŠCommittee's€view,€the€remedy€for€alleged€torture€cannot€be€considered€"effective"€unless€it€resultsŠ -P(+ Šin€a€trial€and€subsequent€conviction.€If€this€were€the€case,€investigative€procedures€-€an€indispensableŠ š-@), Šcomponent€of€criminal€proceedings€-€would€simply€be€a€means€to€realize€this€end,€whereas€it€is€wellŠ ° Šestablished€both€in€fact€and€in€law€that€the€examining€magistrate€must€conduct€his€investigationsŠ  š Šwith€a€view€to€indictment€or€acquittal.€Š ą ŠĢņņComments€by€the€authoróóŠ pĄ ŠĢ9.1€The€author€recalls€that€in€1992€the€Higher€Committee€for€Human€Rights€and€FundamentalŠ P   ŠFreedoms€transmitted€a€report€to€the€President€of€the€Republic€in€which€it€expressed€the€view€thatŠ @  Šthe€death€of€Faisal€Baraket€had€occurred€in€suspicious€circumstances€and€that,€in€spite€of€the€caseŠ 0 € Šbeing€closed,€new€evidence€had€seemingly€come€to€light€which€would€warrant€the€opening€of€a€newŠ  p  Šinquiry.€The€State€party€has€not€indicated€what€evidence€led€the€official€Government€commissionŠ `  Što€form€this€view.€Š P  ŠĢ9.2€The€author€has€transmitted€to€the€Committee€a€copy€of€a€letter€dated€20€July€1994€which€was€sentŠ ą0  Što€the€President€of€the€Movement€against€Racism€and€for€Friendship€among€Peoples,€a€foreignŠ Š  Šnon-governmental€organization€which€has€taken€an€interest€in€the€case,€via€the€Tunisian€ambassadorŠ Ą Što€France.€The€ambassador€did€not€mention€the€road€traffic€accident€hypothesis€and€placed€the€caseŠ ° Šin€the€context€of€promoting€human€rights€and€strengthening€democratic€structures€in€Tunisia.€TheŠ  š Šauthor€notes€that€the€State€party€has€not€provided€an€explanation€for€this€letter.€Š ą ŠĢ9.3€The€State€party€claims€to€have€reopened€the€Baraket€case€following€the€transmission€ofŠ pĄ Šcommunication€No.€14/1994,€and€to€have€summoned€for€questioning€the€witnesses€named€by€theŠ `° Šauthor.€In€fact,€the€police€officers€concerned€have€never€been€questioned€or€involved€with€the€inquiryŠ P  Šin€any€way,€despite€the€fact€that€the€author€has€indicated€their€name€and€rank.€Š @ ŠĢ9.4€With€regard€to€the€witness€who€the€State€party€says€has€been€bribed,€the€author€claims€that€theŠ  p Šwitness€is€a€wealthy€businessman€and€asks€where€he€could€have€found€the€money€to€offer€a€bribe,Š ` Šsince€he€himself€has€no€money€to€give.€This€same€witness€informed€the€author€that,€when€he€wasŠ P Šquestioned€after€the€reopening€of€the€case,€he€was€detained€for€over€a€week€and€the€police€officersŠ š@ Šinvolved€in€the€Faisal€Baraket€case€were€present€during€his€detention.€This€is€the€witness€whose€wifeŠ ą0 Šwas€arrested€in€1996.ņņ€3óó€Finally,€the€general€superintendent€at€Nabeul€Hospital€is€unknown€to€theŠ Š  Šauthor€and€has€never€been€named€by€him€as€a€"witness".€Š Ą! ŠĢ9.5€The€author€rejects€the€State€party's€contention€that€there€is€no€connection€between€theŠ  #š! Šimprisonment€of€the€wife€of€one€of€the€witnesses€and€the€case€under€consideration.€The€State€partyŠ $ą" Šhas€not€explained€to€the€Committee€why€proceedings€were€instituted€against€the€wife€in€question.Š €%Š # ŠIt€has€also€failed€to€explain€why€she€has€been€transferred€to€a€prison€far€away€from€her€family,€andŠ p&Ą!$ Šwhy€her€counsel€is€prohibited€from€talking€to€her€without€the€presence€of€witnesses.€Š `'°"% ŠĢ9.6€The€author€has€forwarded€a€letter€from€Professor€Pounder€in€which€the€latter€states€his€opinionŠ @)$' Šon€the€report€compiled€by€Professor€Ghachem€and€two€other€experts.€Professor€Pounder€notes€thatŠ 0*€%( Šthe€State€party€has€not€provided€the€text€of€the€reportņņ€4óó€and€states€that,€on€the€basis€of€the€sentencesŠ  +p&) Šwhich€the€State€party€has€excerpted,€he€has€not€changed€his€opinion,€namely€that€a€road€trafficŠ ,`'* Šaccident€could€not€explain€the€type€of€injuries€which€led€to€the€death€of€Faisal€Baraket.€HeŠ -P(+ Šreconfirmed€that,€in€his€opinion,€the€injury€to€the€rectum€could€only€have€been€received€as€aŠ š-@), Šconsequence€of€a€foreign€body€being€inserted€into€the€anus.€Furthermore,€it€is€perfectly€possible€thatŠ ° Šsuch€an€injury€could€have€been€produced€without€causing€a€lesion€to€the€anus€itself.€Š  š ŠĢ9.7€The€author€has€provided€three€other€reports€commissioned€by€Amnesty€International€from€threeŠ €Š Šprofessors€of€forensic€science€who€evaluated€the€report€prepared€by€the€three€experts€and€ProfessorŠ pĄ ŠPounder's€report.€They€all€concur€with€Professor€Pounder's€opinion.€The€first,€dated€6€October€1994,Š ` ° Šwas€drawn€up€by€Professor€Knight€of€the€University€of€Wales,€and€states€that:Š P   ŠĢą0  ąI€have€studied€the€translation€of€the€very€short€autopsy€report€from€the€Regional€Hospital€ofŠ 0 € ŠNabeul,€Tunisia€concerning€an€unnamed€deceased€person.€I€have€also€read€the€report€ofŠ  p  ŠProfessor€Derrick€Pounder€and€the€extract€from€the€Tunisian€Government's€response.€Š` (#(# ŠĢą0  ąI€must€begin€by€saying€that€I€agree€in€every€particular€with€Professor€Pounder's€report€andŠ š@  Šreject€the€government€response,€including€the€further€opinion€of€three€professors€of€legalŠ ą0  Šmedicine€in€Tunisia,€whose€comments€are€unacceptable.€ŠŠ (#(# ŠĢą0  ąThis€was€a€25-year-old€man€and€therefore€in€the€absence€of€evidence€to€the€contrary,€wouldŠ ° Šbe€expected€at€that€age€to€be€free€of€natural€disease,€especially€in€the€rectum€and€sigmoid.€Š š(#(# ŠĢą0  ąThe€cause€of€death€given€on€the€autopsy€report€(which€must€surely€be€only€a€brief€summary,Š €Š Šas€no€judicial€autopsy€report€can€possibly€be€this€short)€is€useless€and€gives€no€trueŠ pĄ Šinformation€at€all€about€the€underlying€pathology€leading€to€the€death€-€it€is€merely€aŠ `° Šstatement€of€the€terminal€mode€of€death,€not€the€cause€and€is€thus€of€no€value€whatsoever.€ŠP (#(# ŠĢą0  ąThe€autopsy€reveals€bruising€of€the€soles€of€both€feet,€a€perforation€of€the€large€intestine€atŠ 0€ Šthe€rectosigmoid€junction,€extensive€bruising€and€oedema€of€the€buttocks,€various€otherŠ  p Šbruises€on€the€face,€arms,€head€and€legs.€The€only€potentially€fatal€injury€is€perforation€ofŠ ` Šthe€rectosigmoid€junction.€The€only€cause€for€this,€in€the€absence€of€any€serious€statedŠ P Šdisease€such€as€cancer,€severe€colitis€etc.,€is€a€perforating€injury.€This€can€only€be€caused,Š š@ Šin€the€absence€of€gross€abdominal€injury,€by€an€object€being€introduced€into€the€rectum.€ThisŠ ą0 Šcould€occur€without€any€damage€to€the€anal€margin,€if€a€thin,€pointed€object,€such€as€a€thinŠ Š  Šrod€was€slid€into€the€anus.€Thus€the€objections€of€the€three€professors€are€unfounded,€if€theyŠ Ą! Šbase€their€denial€on€the€absence€of€anal€damage.€The€bruising€of€the€soles€of€the€feet€can€onlyŠ °"  Šoccur€from€beating€in€falanga.€The€bruising€and€oedema€of€the€buttocks€is€typical€of€aŠ  #š! Šbeating€in€that€area.€Š$ą"(#(# ŠĢą0  ąI€entirely€concur€with€Professor€Pounder€and€agree€that€this€cannot€be€a€'traffic€accident',€butŠ p&Ą!$ Šis€a€deliberate€injury€to€the€lower€intestine€by€the€introduction€of€a€thin€weapon€into€theŠ `'°"% Šrectum,€in€a€man€who€has€been€beaten€on€the€feet€and€buttocks."ŠP( #&(#(# ŠĢ9.8€The€second€report,€prepared€by€Professor€Fournier€of€the€Universit€Ren€Descartes€in€Paris€onŠ 0*€%( Š10€October€1994,€indicates€that:Š  +p&) ŠĢą0  ą[The€autopsy€report],€which€may€be€described€as€very€succinct,€furnishes€no€evidence€as€toŠ -P(+ Šthe€true€cause€of€death.€[...]€Most€of€the€lesions€described€could€be€ascribed€to€a€roadŠ š-@), Šaccident.€However,€two€factors€rule€out€this€hypothesis:Š°(#(# ŠĢą0  ą-€The€perforation€of€the€rectosigmoid€junction,€which€cannot€be€accounted€for€in€terms€of€aŠ ą Šmechanism€of€sharp€deceleration€and€cannot€be€linked€to€an€osteal€lesion€of€the€pelvis.€Š€Š(#(# ŠĢą0  ą-€The€lesions€on€the€soles€of€both€feet,€which€are€difficult€to€imagine€in€such€circumstances.Š` °(#(# Šą0  ą[...]€ŠP  (#(# ŠĢą0  ąThe€hypothesis€of€death€by€inhibition€is€compatible€with€the€observations€made€duringŠ 0 € Šexamination€with€the€naked€eye.€This€type€of€death,€which€may€be€observed€when€violenceŠ  p  Šis€applied€but€also€sometimes€independently€of€any€context€of€violence€or€torture,€has€beenŠ `  Šdescribed€on€the€occasion€of€vaginal€or€rectal€examination,€various€punctures€(of€the€pleura,Š P  Šthe€lumbar€region,€etc.),€or€injury€to€the€testicles,€the€solar€plexus€region€or€the€neck.€TheŠ š@  Šexact€mechanism€of€death€is€not€known,€but€pulmonary€congestion€is€usually€observed.€AsŠ ą0  Šthe€dossier€stands,€and€in€the€absence€of€more€precise€data€concerning€the€prior€clinical€stateŠ Š  Šand€the€toxicological€context,€the€hypothesis€of€death€by€inhibition€following€the€deliberateŠ Ą Šand€traumatic€introduction€of€a€foreign€body€into€the€rectum€appears€to€be€highly€likely."Š°(#(# ŠĢ9.9€Lastly,€the€third€report,€prepared€by€Professor€Thomsen€of€the€University€of€Odense€on€11Š ą ŠNovember€1994,€states€in€relation€to€the€autopsy€report:Š €Š ŠĢą0  ąThe€above€pattern€of€injury€is€not€consistent€with€any€known€type€of€road€traffic€accident.Š `° ŠThe€pattern€of€injury€is€much€more€consistent€with€having€been€inflicted€deliberately€by€theŠ P  Šuse€of€blunt€violence.€Thus€the€haemorrhages€of€the€foot€soles€are€very€indicative€of€the€typeŠ @ Šof€torture€known€as€phalanga€(or€falaca)€inflicted€by€the€beating€of€the€soles€of€the€feet€withŠ 0€ Šclubs€or€similar€instruments.€A€perforation€of€the€rectosigmoid€junction€is€very€rarely€seenŠ  p Šwithout€a€pelvic€fracture€and€is€much€more€indicative€of€torture€by€the€insertion€of€an€objectŠ ` Šthrough€the€anal€canal.€The€rest€of€the€lesions€are€all€consistent€with€the€use€of€blunt€violenceŠ P Šin€the€form€of€beating€by€one€or€more€other€persons.Šš@(#(# ŠĢą0  ąThe€stated€cause€of€death€is€almost€meaningless,€as€congestion€of€the€lungs€is€alwaysŠ Š  Šsecondary€to€some€other€pathologic€state.€ŠĄ!(#(# ŠĢą0  ąBased€on€the€available€brief€autopsy€report€it€is€much€more€likely€that€the€cause€of€death€wasŠ  #š! Šthe€described€perforation€of€the€bowel€wall.Š$ą"(#(# ŠĢ9.10€With€regard€to€the€civil€proceedings,€the€legal€time€limits€for€admissibility€were€largelyŠ p&Ą!$ Šexceeded€by€the€time€proceedings€were€brought.€The€Court€of€Appeal€not€only€confirmed€theŠ `'°"% Šadmissibility€of€the€case,€but€also€increased€the€damages€payable€to€the€beneficiaries.€The€Chief€ofŠ P( #& Šthe€State€Litigation€Department€specifically€stated€before€the€Court€of€Appeal€that€the€decision€ofŠ @)$' Šthe€court€of€first€instance€in€favour€of€the€victim's€father€had€violated€the€law€in€that€the€allegedŠ 0*€%( Švictim€of€a€road€traffic€accident€caused€by€an€unidentified€culprit€must€file,€in€writing€and€no€moreŠ  +p&) Šthan€one€year€from€the€date€of€the€accident,€a€request€to€reach€an€amicable€agreement€with€theŠ ,`'* ŠCompensation€Fund€for€the€Victims€of€Road€Accidents.€In€this€case,€the€authorities€were€onlyŠ -P(+ Šapprised€of€the€accident€on€30€May€1995,€or€three€years€and€five€months€after€it€occurred,€therebyŠ š-@), Šinvolving€the€statute€of€limitation.€Š ° ŠĢ9.11€The€author€states€that€Faisal€Baraket's€younger€brother€is€the€only€member€of€the€family€to€haveŠ ą Šbeen€paid€his€share€of€the€compensation€for€the€road€traffic€accident.€Jamel€Baraket,€who€is€legallyŠ €Š Šresponsible€for€the€family,€has€instructed€the€author€to€inform€the€Committee€that€this€was€doneŠ pĄ Šwithout€his€knowledge,€his€brother€did€not€act€spontaneously€and€it€has€not€affected€the€family'sŠ ` ° Šposition.€This€remains€unchanged,€in€spite€of€the€fact€that€the€sums€awarded€are€sizeable€inŠ P   Šproportion€to€the€standard€of€living€in€Tunisia€and€the€family's€very€modest€material€situation.€TheŠ @  Šfamily€has€always€refused€to€have€any€dealings€with€the€lawyer€Mr.€Mohamed€Ahmed€El€Marhoul,Š 0 € Šparticularly€with€regard€to€his€persistent€appeals€that€they€should€come€to€his€office€and€collect€theŠ  p  Šmoney.€At€the€request€of€the€President€of€the€Court€of€First€Instance,€Mr.€Ahmed€El€Marhoul€shouldŠ `  Šlong€ago€have€filed€a€warrant€authorizing€remittance€of€the€sums€in€question€to€the€Treasury.€Š P  ŠĢ9.12€The€author€reaffirms€that€the€victim's€parents€never€brought€criminal€proceedings€because€theyŠ ą0  Šknew€for€a€fact€that€their€son€did€not€die€in€a€road€traffic€accident.€They€also€knew€that€the€StateŠ Š  Šparty€was€acting€in€bad€faith€when€it€reopened€and€closed€the€same€case€three€times€in€less€than€threeŠ Ą Šyears,€entrusting€the€same€people€with€the€investigation€on€each€occasion.€Š ° ŠĢņņFurther€observations€by€the€State€partyóóŠ ą ŠĢ10.1€Concerning€the€medical€opinions€advanced€by€Dr.€Knight,€Dr.€Thomsen€and€Dr.€Fournier,€theŠ pĄ ŠState€party€affirms€that€these€are€not€medical€evaluations€but€comments€prepared€on€the€basis€of€anŠ `° Šalternative€report,€which€was€in€turn€drawn€up€on€the€basis€of€Dr.€Sassi's€initial€report,€and€whichŠ P  Špurely€and€simply€endorsed€the€conclusions€reached€by€Dr.€Pounder.€Š @ ŠĢ10.2€The€State€party€considers€it€unacceptable€that€the€author€should€accuse€the€Tunisian€judicialŠ  p Šauthorities€of€distorting€the€procedure€by€questioning€witnesses€and€not€suspects.€A€suspect€becomesŠ ` Ša€suspect€only€when€there€is€credible€and€consistent€evidence€and€proof€which€may€be€revealed€byŠ P Šwitnesses,€inter€alia.€From€the€standpoint€of€criminal€procedure,€examination€of€witnesses€isŠ š@ Šnecessary,€before€the€possible€questioning€of€the€"real"€suspects.€In€addition,€the€examination€ofŠ ą0 Šwitnesses€is€carried€out€exclusively€before€the€competent€examining€magistrate,€in€his€office€andŠ Š  Šwithout€any€criminal€investigation€officer€being€present.€Š Ą! ŠĢ10.3€As€regards€civil€procedure,€the€State€party€points€out€a€flagrant€contradiction€on€the€part€of€theŠ  #š! Šauthor.€On€the€one€hand,€he€considers€Jamel€Baraket€as€being€"legally€responsible"€for€the€entireŠ $ą" ŠBaraket€family,€while€at€the€same€time€he€mentions€that€Mohamed€El€Hedi€is€27€years€old.€InŠ €%Š # ŠTunisia€the€age€of€majority€is€20.€Consequently,€Jamel€Baraket€cannot€be€legally€responsible€forŠ p&Ą!$ Šadult€relatives,€except€where€the€courts€have€declared€them€legally€incompetent€by€reason€ofŠ `'°"% Šinsanity.€He€is€not€even€the€legal€representative€of€his€close€relatives,€as€to€date€he€has€not€cited€aŠ P( #& Šlegally€valid€authorization.€Š @)$' ŠĢ10.4€The€lawyer€Mohamed€Ahmed€El€Marhoul€did€not€appear€"out€of€the€blue"€in€the€civilŠ  +p&) Šproceedings,€as€the€author€claims.€The€father€of€the€late€Faisal€Baraket,€who€has€since€died,€engagedŠ ,`'* Šhim€to€pursue€an€action€for€compensation€following€a€road€accident,€on€his€behalf€and€on€behalf€ofŠ -P(+ Šall€the€other€heirs.€None€of€the€heirs€had€recourse€to€the€law€to€challenge€his€authority.€In€any€event,Š š-@), Šthe€relations€between€a€lawyer€and€his€clients€fall€within€the€sphere€of€private€law€and€are€not€subjectŠ ° Što€any€supervision€on€the€part€of€the€Government.€If€not€all€those€entitled€to€compensation€have€yetŠ  š Šreceived€it,€that€is€not€because€they€have€been€subjected€to€pressure€by€the€lawyer,€but€because€theyŠ ą Šare€being€manipulated€by€the€author€of€the€communication.€Š €Š ŠĢ10.5€Lastly,€as€regards€the€situation€of€the€wife€of€one€of€the€"witnesses",€she€has€been€prosecutedŠ ` ° Šin€keeping€with€normal€legal€procedures€for€offences€under€the€ordinary€law.€Š P   ŠĢņņConsideration€on€the€meritsóóŠ 0 € ŠĢ11.1€The€Committee€has€considered€the€communication€in€the€light€of€all€information€made€availableŠ `  Što€it€by€the€parties€concerned,€in€accordance€with€article€22,€paragraph€4,€of€the€Convention.€Š P  ŠĢ11.2€It€also€notes€that€the€author€of€the€communication€claims€that€the€State€party€has€violatedŠ ą0  Šarticles€2,€11,€12,€13€and€14€of€the€Convention.€Š Š  ŠĢ11.3€Regarding€articles€11€and€14,€the€Committee€considers€that€the€documents€communicated€toŠ ° Šit€furnish€no€proof€that€the€State€party€has€failed€to€discharge€its€obligations€under€these€provisionsŠ  š Šof€the€Convention.€Š ą ŠĢ11.4€As€regards€article€12€of€the€Convention,€the€Committee€notes€first€that€study€of€the€informationŠ pĄ Šforwarded€by€the€parties€points€to€the€following€established€facts:Š `° ŠĢą0  ą-€The€victim€Faisal€Baraket€did€indeed€die€no€later€than€11€November€1991,€the€date€of€theŠ @ Šorder€for€an€autopsy;€dying,€according€to€the€author€of€the€communication,€as€a€result€of€hisŠ 0€ Šarrest,€or,€according€to€the€State€party,€as€a€result€of€a€road€accident€caused€by€an€unknownŠ  p Šperson.€Š`(#(# ŠĢą0  ą-€In€October€1991,€the€State€party€received€allegations€that€Faisal€Baraket€died€as€a€result€ofŠ š@ Štorture€from€the€following€non-governmental€organizations:€Amnesty€International,€WorldŠ ą0 ŠOrganization€against€Torture,€Action€of€Christians€for€the€Abolition€of€Torture€(France)€andŠ Š  ŠAssociation€for€the€Prevention€of€Torture€(Switzerland).€ŠĄ!(#(# ŠĢą0  ą-€On€13€July€1992,€a€report€prepared€by€the€Higher€Committee€for€Human€Rights€andŠ  #š! ŠFundamental€Freedoms,€an€official€Tunisian€body,€had€considered€Faisal€Baraket's€death€toŠ $ą" Šbe€suspicious€and€had€suggested€that€an€inquiry€should€be€begun€under€article€36€of€the€CodeŠ €%Š # Šof€Criminal€Procedure.Šp&Ą!$(#(# ŠĢ11.5€However,€only€on€22€September€1992€was€an€inquiry€ordered€into€these€allegations€of€tortureŠ P( #& Š-€over€10€months€after€the€foreign€non-governmental€organizations€had€raised€the€alarm€and€over€2Š @)$' Šmonths€after€the€Driss€Commission's€report.€Š 0*€%( ŠĢ11.6€In€a€similar€case,ņņ€5óó€the€Committee€had€considered€delays€of€three€weeks€and€more€than€twoŠ ,`'* Šmonths€on€the€part€of€the€competent€authorities€in€reacting€to€allegations€of€torture€to€be€excessive.€Š -P(+ ŠŠ š-@), Š11.7€The€Committee€is€of€the€view€that€the€State€party€did€not€comply€with€its€obligation€underŠ ° Šarticle€12€of€the€Convention€to€proceed€to€a€prompt€...€investigation,€wherever€there€is€reasonableŠ  š Šground€to€believe€that€an€act€of€torture€has€been€committed€in€any€territory€under€its€jurisdiction€andŠ ą Šthat€there€was€consequently€a€violation€of€the€Convention.€Š €Š ŠĢ11.8€Concerning€the€investigation€carried€out€by€the€competent€authorities€of€the€State€party,€theŠ ` ° Šfollowing€acts€may€be€regarded€as€having€been€established:Š P   ŠĢą0  ą-€The€examining€magistrate,€who€was€entrusted€with€the€case€by€the€Public€Prosecutor'sŠ 0 € ŠOffice€on€22€September€1992,€ordered€a€new€medical€evaluation,€which€found€that€it€wasŠ  p  Šimpossible€to€determine€the€mechanism€by€which€the€lesions€observed€on€the€victim€hadŠ `  Šarisen,€or€their€origin,€and€dismissed€the€case.€ŠP (#(# ŠĢą0  ą-€Assigned€the€case€once€again,€following€communication€No.€14/1994,€the€magistrateŠ ą0  Šexamined€the€persons€mentioned€by€the€author€of€the€communication.€However,€as€all€theseŠ Š  Špersons€denied€the€slightest€knowledge€of€the€alleged€events,€the€magistrate€again€dismissedŠ Ą Šthe€case.Š°(#(# ŠĢ11.9€The€Committee€notes€in€this€regard€that,€among€other€things,€the€examining€magistrate€had€atŠ ą Šhis€disposal€the€results€of€other€important€investigations€which€are€customarily€conducted€in€suchŠ €Š Šmatters,€but€made€no€use€of€them:€Š pĄ ŠĢą0  ą-€First,€notwithstanding€the€statements€made€by€the€witnesses€mentioned,€and€in€particularŠ P  Šbearing€in€mind€the€possibility€of€incomplete€recall,€the€magistrate€could€have€checked€in€theŠ @ Šrecords€of€the€detention€centres€referred€to€whether€there€was€any€trace€of€the€presence€ofŠ 0€ ŠFaisal€Baraket€during€the€period€in€question,€as€well€as€that,€in€the€same€detention€centre€andŠ  p Šat€the€same€time,€of€the€two€persons€mentioned€by€the€author€of€the€communication€asŠ ` Šhaving€been€present€when€Faisal€Baraket€died.€It€is€not€without€relevance€to€note€in€thisŠ P Šregard€that€in€pursuance€of€principle€12€of€the€Body€of€Principles€for€the€Protection€of€AllŠ š@ ŠPersons€under€Any€Form€of€Detention€or€Imprisonment,€adopted€on€9€December€1988,ņņ€6óó€asŠ ą0 Šwell€as€article€13€bis€of€the€Tunisian€Code€of€Penal€Procedure,ņņ7ó󀊊 (#(# Šą0  ą-€a€record€must€be€left€of€every€person€detained.ŠĄ!(#(# ŠĢą0  ą-€Next,€the€magistrate€might€have€sought€to€identify€the€accused€officials,€examine€them€andŠ  #š! Šarrange€a€confrontation€between€them€and€the€witnesses€mentioned€as€well€as€theŠ $ą" Šcomplainant.€Š€%Š #(#(# ŠĢą0  ą-€Lastly,€in€view€of€the€major€disparities€in€the€findings€of€the€forensic€officials€as€to€theŠ `'°"% Šcauses€of€some€of€the€lesions€observed€on€the€victim,€the€Committee€considers€that€it€wouldŠ P( #& Šhave€been€wise€to€order€the€exhumation€of€the€body€in€order€at€least€to€confirm€whether€theŠ @)$' Švictim€had€suffered€fractures€to€the€pelvis€(confirming€the€accident€hypothesis)€or€whetherŠ 0*€%( Šhe€had€not€(confirming€the€hypothesis€that€a€foreign€object€had€been€introduced€into€hisŠ  +p&) Šanus);€this€should€have€been€done,€as€far€as€possible,€in€the€presence€of€non-Tunisian€experts,Š ,`'* Šand€more€particularly€those€who€have€had€occasion€to€express€a€view€on€this€matter.€Š-P(+(#(# ŠŠ š-@), Š11.10€The€Committee€considers€that€the€magistrate,€by€failing€to€investigate€more€thoroughly,Š ° Šcommitted€a€breach€of€the€duty€of€impartiality€imposed€on€him€by€his€obligation€to€give€equal€weightŠ  š Što€both€accusation€and€defence€during€his€investigation,€as€did€the€Public€Prosecutor€when€he€failedŠ ą Što€appeal€against€the€decision€to€dismiss€the€case.€In€the€Tunisian€system€the€Minister€of€Justice€hasŠ €Š Šauthority€over€the€Public€Prosecutor.€It€could€therefore€have€ordered€him€to€appeal,€but€failed€to€doŠ pĄ Šso.€Š ` ° ŠĢ12.€Consequently,€the€State€party€breached€its€obligation€under€articles€12€and€13€of€the€ConventionŠ @  Što€proceed€to€an€impartial€investigation€wherever€there€is€reasonable€ground€to€believe€that€an€actŠ 0 € Šof€torture€has€been€committed€in€any€territory€under€its€jurisdiction.€Š  p  ŠĢ13.€In€pursuance€of€rule€111,€paragraph€5,€of€its€rules€of€procedure,€the€Committee€calls€on€the€StateŠ P  Šparty€to€inform€it,€within€90€days€from€the€date€of€the€communication€provided€for€in€rule€111,Š š@  Šparagraph€3,€of€its€rules€of€procedure,€of€the€steps€it€has€taken€in€response€to€the€observations€madeŠ ą0  Šabove.€Š Š  ŠĢĢ___________Š  š ŠĢ1/€€€A€summary€of€the€allegations€relating€to€the€Baraket€case€appears€in€Amnesty€InternationalŠ €Š Šdocument€MDE€30/04/92€dated€March€1992.Š pĄ ŠĢ2/€€€CAT/C/14/D/14/1994.Š P  ŠĢ3/€€€See€above,€para.€6.1.Š 0€ ŠĢ4/€€€The€full€text€of€the€report€was€subsequently€transmitted€to€the€Committee.Š ` ŠĢ5/€€€Encarnaciš;šn€Blanco€Abad€v.€Spain€(CAT/C/20/D/59/1996)Š š@ ŠĢ6/€€€Principle€12€reads:€Š Š  ŠĢą0  ą1.€There€shall€be€duly€recorded:€Š°" (#(# ŠĢą0  ąą0` (#(#ą(a)The€reasons€for€the€arrest;€Š$ą"` (#` (# ŠĢą0  ąą0` (#(#ą(b)€The€time€of€the€arrest€and€the€taking€of€the€arrested€person€to€a€place€of€custodyŠ p&Ą!$ Šas€well€as€that€of€his€first€appearance€before€a€judicial€or€other€authority;€Š`'°"%` (#` (# ŠĢą0  ąą0` (#(#ą(c)€The€identity€of€the€law€enforcement€officials€concerned;€Š@)$'` (#` (# ŠĢą0  ąą0` (#(#ą(d)€Precise€information€concerning€the€place€of€custody.€Š +p&)` (#` (# ŠĢą0  ą2.€Such€records€shall€be€communicated€to€the€detained€person,€or€his€counsel,€if€any,€in€theŠ -P(+ Šform€prescribed€by€law.Šš-@),(#(# Š‡7/€€€In€its€comments€on€the€conclusions€and€recommendations€of€the€Committee€following€itsŠ ° Šconsideration€of€Tunisia's€second€periodic€report€the€Government€stated€that€"All€departments€withŠ  š Šresponsibility€for€places€of€detention€are€obliged€to€keep€a€special€numbered€register€including€theŠ ą Šidentities€of€all€persons€held€in€custody€and€indicating€the€time€and€date€that€the€custody€periodŠ €Š Šbegins€and€ends€(article€13€bis€of€the€Code€of€Criminal€Procedure)."€[A/54/44,€para.€105Š pĄ ŠĢĢ[Done€in€French€(original€text)€and€translated€into€English,€Russian€and€Spanish.]