“There are no proofs showing former interior minister was involved in April events”

“There are no proofs showing the former minister of the interior was involved in the April events.” The prosecutors reached such a conclusion after questioning former Minister Gheorghe Papuc as a witness in the cases concerning the April 7 events and the actions taken by the superiors of the Special Police Brigade “Fulger” on the night of April 8 during about three hours, Info-Prim Neo reports. After the hearing, Gheorghe Papuc told the reporters that he answered all the questions put by the prosecutors. He said that during those days he took the right steps and thus 'no child was hurt'. As to the four persons who died as a result of the April events, Papuc said: “I know nothing about the death of the four persons. There was given no order to kill somebody.” He also said that special attention was then devoted and they permanently fought not to admit acts of torture. “The police officers did what they had to. The prosecutors will establish if torture was used. I did not know about cases of torture and I'm not afraid of responsibility as we acted correctly,” Papuc said. Asked who ordered the Police Brigade “Fulger” to intervene, the former minister said he told this to the prosecutors and they know it. Gheorghe Papuc said at the moment he takes care of his family and his health. Prosecutor Corneliu Popescu said they do not have evidence showing that Gheorghe Papuc committed irregularities during the April events. Papuc answered all the questions, including about how the Parliament and the Presidential Office were protected and how the public order was maintained. As regards the Police Brigade “Fulger”, the prosecutor said it is not yet clear who gave the instructions. According to him, the investigation will last for several months as it is complicated and there will be heard other employees of the Interior Ministry. As many as 105 complaints about the use of torture and mistreatment during and after the April events have been submitted to the Prosecutor General's Office so far. There were opened 35 legal cases. Four cases against police officers were sent to court. Ten more cases will be remitted to court in the near future.