The two police officers who attacked young people in Jardines del Hipódromo (Montevideo), whose images were captured by one of the victimsThey were summaries to initiate the administrative investigationas confirmed by the Minister of the Interior, Louis Albert Heberthis Friday afternoon.
The security portfolio started a urgent investigation and, in parallel, the 2nd Turn Flagrancia prosecutor, Patricia Rodríguez, took on the case. “(If) there has been police abuse, the prosecutor will determine it,” the head of state limited himself to saying at a press conference in Maldonado, and affirmed that it will be “very severe in punishing those who abuse their police function”.
If the policeman “acted outside the law, he will be punished as he should,” he insisted.
On the other hand, he added: “I wear the police shirt a little. It’s 33 thousand. To say that there is a situation because an outrage is committed somewhere, seems very unfair to the police. Now, that does not mean that we are very severe in punishing whoever abuses his function “.
In addition, Heber targeted “people who want to link these episodes to the LUC (Urgent Consideration Act) issue.” “It seems reprehensible to me because it is falsifying the truth (…) There was abuse before and after the LUC,” he pointed out.
The case that occurred in Jardines del Hipódromo became public due to the dissemination of a video which one of the detainees filmed. The policemen and the motorcyclists were arguing over a fine that, according to the driver, was not due.
After a few seconds of discussion, one of the police officers hit one of the youths, first with his fist and then with a kick that knocked him to the ground. The official also tried to hit the other person, who was filming with a cell phone.
One of the men was handcuffed on his knees on the ground, while being rebuked. The other motorcyclist was handcuffed by the other policeman without putting up any resistance.
