Three Guayaquil police officers committed to trial over assault on handcuffed detainee in 2023
A judge issued an order sending three uniformed officers to trial, accused of beating a citizen in custody in Kennedy Norte, Guayaquil.
Criminal trial against three police officers for injuries to detainee in Guayaquil
A judge of Criminal Guarantees at the Albán Borja Judicial Unit in Guayaquil issued an order of callment to trial against three active-duty members of the National Police, according to reports from elcomercio.com. The defendants face charges of alleged abuse of police authority aggravated by bodily harm.
The events date back to 21 May 2023. The uniformed officers intercepted a citizen at the intersection of Francisco de Orellana Avenue and Plaza Dañín, in northern Guayaquil, to execute an enforcement warrant arising from a maintenance proceeding.
Following the detention, the citizen was transferred to the Community Police Unit (UPC) in Kennedy Norte. Family members of the victim reported that an altercation occurred at that location relating to the return of personal belongings. According to the judicial investigation, the detainee received physical assault whilst handcuffed and in custody.
The subsequent transfer to the SNAI Detention Unit allowed technical staff to confirm visible injuries on the victim's body. This prompted his emergency transfer to Abel Gilbert Pontón Hospital, where he was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. Medical reports presented to the judge detail injuries to the left eye, chest and ribs. Assessments established physical incapacity lasting 31 days.
The Public Prosecutor's Office supported the accusatory ruling with statements from Ministry of Health and SNAI officials, clinical records, the police detention report, copies of the maintenance proceeding and audiovisual recordings. The judge validated this array of evidence as sufficient grounds for the callment to trial.
The three defendants identified as Darwin Amador L. P., Alexander Felipe C. V. and Cristhian Marcelo V. T. are responding to charges provided for in Article 293 of the Comprehensive Organic Criminal Code (COIP), concerning abuse of authority during performance of duty, in accordance with Article 152, numeral 3, which punishes the crime of bodily harm.
As part of the ruling, the judge ratified precautionary measures for the three police officers: prohibition from leaving the country and periodic presentation before the Public Prosecutor's Office in the provinces where they carry out their functions.
Source: Google News EC — Guayaquil