Ten members of “Pantera” Detachment accused of beating 20 prisoners

Prosecutors accuse ten members of the Special Destination Detachment “Pantera” of the Department of Penitentiary Institutions of maltreating 20 detainees held at Penitentiary No. 11 in Balti. According to the prosecutors, they beat the detainees with special tools, wearing balaclavas. Only three of the ten officers admitted that they mistreated prisoners, but said that they did it within the law, Info-Prim Neo reports. Prosecutor Ion Caracuian, the head of the Torture Combating Division of the Prosecutor General’s Office, told a news conference that the members of “Pantera” in April were sent to the penitentiary for preventive work. There, they entered by three the cell, maltreated the detainees and then took them out to the hall, where other employees punched and kicked them and beat them with cudgels. The next day, the prisoners sent complaints to the Prosecutor General’s Office and the Anticorruption Center. As many as 152 detainees went on hunger strike, making common cause with the maltreated detainees. If they are found guilty, the ten members of “Pantera” will serve 5 to 10 years in prison and will be banned from performing certain activities and holding certain posts for 2 to 5 years. The case was sent to the Chisinau Military Court for examination.