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- Press Release
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- Organizations Advocated for Two Mexicans Sentenced for a Confession Obtained Under Torture
Organizations Advocated for Two Mexicans Sentenced for a Confession Obtained Under Torture
Washington D.C., March 23, 2010
Juan García y Santiago Sánchez were sentenced to 40 years in prison in Mexico, based on confessions extracted under torture. Human rights organizations yesterday urged the IACHR to submit its final report on this case, presented to that body in 2000.
On June 6, 1997, Judicial Police from the Federal District in Mexico raided, without a warrant, the home of two Mexican citizens. They were arbitrarily and illegally detained, as well as beaten and taken to the premises of the Attorney General of Ontario (PGJDF). There, they continued to beat them and threatened to kill them in order for them to sign blank sheets, on which false confessions were written.
These facts were reassured at a hearing before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) by organizations representing the victims: Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL), Legal Services, Information, and Legal Studies (SLIEJ), and Attorneys’ Association for Justice and Human Rights.
Confessions obtained under torture were the main evidence that Juan y Santiago first received a sentence to three years in prison for allegedly carrying illegal weapons, and then another sentence of 40 years under false charges of committing a robbery, murder a policeman, and injuring several policemen.
Representatives of the Mexican state acknowledged that the victims had injuries but did not initiate any investigation since Juan y Santiago did not report the incident. The State also refuted the allegation of organizations and defended the arrests and condemnatory convictions. For State representatives this case is res judicata.
According to Alejandra Nuño, CEJIL lawyer, “the version that they were arrested red-handed spreading subversive propaganda and armed visibly lacks much basis. The only witnesses are the police who arrested them and those alleged witnesses who said they had never witnessed the arrest and identified them as those who distributed propaganda. Victims presented various injuries throughout the body that so far the State could not explain its provenance.
At least three instances of documents and official government opinions certify forensically multiple injuries to detainees while under police custody.
“They were beaten and threatened with death to confess their participation in various criminal events. Such injuries were perpetrated directly by state officials. Unfortunately, the torture took effect because it was the utmost important evidence in the sentencing trial.
The IACHR admitted the case of Juan García and Santiago Sánchez in October 2003 and currently victims and representatives are awaiting the final report.
The hearing may be viewed or heard on the following link:
Press Contact: Mauricio Herrera. Director of Communication.
(202) 319-3000, (202) 445-46-76. mherrera@twi.btq.mybluehost.me
The Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL) is an advocacy of human rights in the Americas. CEJIL’s main objective is to ensure full implementation of international human rights standards in the Member States of the Organization of American States (OAS), through the effective use of the Inter-american human rights system and other international protection mechanisms.
