Salah Abdeslam says he was punched in the face by a policeman before being transferred from prison. That is what his lawyer Delphine Paci said at the start of the session of the assize process about the attacks of March 22, 2016. The accused also spoke. He apologized to the victims, “because I know you didn’t come here for this kind of thing”.
Read all about the terror process our file.
According to his lawyer, Abdeslam has traces of violence on his lips, although they would only be visible on the inside of the mouth. The lawyer asked not to suspend the session, but to have a medical doctor come so that he can determine the injuries. Chairwoman Laurence Massart responded to that question: a medical doctor will come during the lunch break.
According to Paci, there is a problem with at least two agents in the glass box. They would misbehave, it sounds. “The Minister of Justice said on the radio in the morning that he is attached to the rule of law, I do not understand this well,” it sounds.
“Difficulty with the way he addressed me”
Abdeslam himself also got the floor. He said that when he left his cell he indicated that he wanted to come to the hearing. He would also have obeyed to be searched naked. “At one point, one of them asked to look at the wall. I had trouble with the way he addressed me and asked if he would also check my eyes. But I remained calm. When I asked to bring in his boss, who I have a good relationship with, he raised his voice. I kept saying I was calm.”
According to Abdeslam, three policemen then grabbed him and tried to overpower him. Abdeslam admitted that he resisted doing so. “But at one point one of them slaps me on the lips. Others came in, the chief also saw me. I said, “I am calm and they overpowered me by force.” The chief then said to let go of me. He called in other policemen to continue the search,” said Abdeslam.
“Follow Hate”
Abdeslam apologized to the victims of the attacks. “Because I know you didn’t come here for this kind of business.” He said he didn’t want to bring up the incident at first “to help the process move forward”, but in the end he did “because it just wouldn’t stop”. According to him, some policemen are correct, but others would “take advantage of the situation to unleash their hatred”.
Both civil parties and the public prosecutor’s office agreed that the hearing should not be suspended pending a legal physician. Attorney Bernard Michel emphasized that the presumption of innocence also applies to the police officers.
“Carte blanche for violence”
Ali El Haddad also accused Asufi of the violence that the police would use during the transfers. He said the “coercion” police are allowed to use is in reality a “carte blanche for violence”, including beatings and insults. He asked to intervene, “otherwise there will be more deaths”.
Yesterday afternoon there was also an incident between the accused and the police in the glass box. When one of the officers made a remark to Ali El Haddad Asufi during a break, Salah Abdeslam joined the discussion. In a raised voice he told them “to stop looking for trouble”. The situation calmed down when another policeman came to talk to the accused.
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