DİYARBAKIR– Three police officers arrested in the torture investigation of 14-year-old Y.D. in Lice have been released.

 

Three police officers arrested as part of the investigation into the abduction and torture of 14-year-old Y.D. in Amed's Lice (Lice) district on March 21 have been released. Making a statement on the subject on its Twitter account, Amed Bar Association said: "The Lice Criminal Court of First Instance had given a decision of non-jurisdiction on the grounds that the actions of the police officers against the 14-year-old child were within the scope of the 'torture crime'. Upon the objection of the accused police officers, the Diyarbakır 1st High Criminal Court not only lifted the decision of non-jurisdiction on the grounds that the elements of the crime of torture did not occur, but also decided to release the three detained police officers by a majority of votes. We will continue to follow the legal process."

 

BACKGROUND

 

On 21 March in Lîce, 14-year-old Y.D., returning home with a 10-year-old friend, was stopped by the police. While leaving his 10-year-old friend, Y.D. abducted by vehicle. The hands and feet of the boy who was tortured by the police were tied. Y.D., who was forced to say that he was Turkish, was then threatened with death by saying, "Swear to the Kurds, sing the National Anthem". Later, Y.D. was left in the swamp by the stream with his mouth and hands tied. The child, who was taken to the hospital after a villager noticed it at night, is at risk of losing one of his eyes. Lice Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation into the incident after the child torture was reported by our agency (Mezopotamya Agency).

 

İsmail Akkuş, Emre Özcan and Gökhan Bay, among the 5 police officers, were arrested on 26 March for the crime of "deliberate injury" within the scope of the investigation. Police Chief Aykut Oral and policeman Hayrettin Çakmak, who were released upon the objections of the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and the complainants' MPs, were arrested, but the Lice Criminal Judgeship of Peace was released on condition of judicial control.