A detainee who was found in his prison cell with serious injuries after being abused for days by fellow detainees was discharged from hospital on Friday. He will not have to return to prison but will instead be fitted with an ankle bracelet.
The 41-year-old man was discovered in his cell in Antwerp prison more than two weeks ago after being tortured for days by inmates with whom he shared a cell. He was reportedly doused with boiling water, beaten, molested and even raped with a broomstick. He was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries.
More than a fortnight later, one of his lawyers Issabel De Fré said the victim is now on the mend and left the hospital on Friday. "Beyond all expectations, he had a speedy recovery physically," she said. "Mentally, it remains to be seen how quickly he gets better. He is at the beginning of years of recovery on that front."
The man was placed under electronic surveillance by the investigating judge on Thursday, meaning he does not have to return to prison to serve the rest of his detention behind bars. He was in pre-trial detention after being arrested for the attempted murder of his ex-girlfriend's partner.
The victim's lawyers were adamant that he should not have to go back to prison and eventually found a shelter for him where he will receive daily medical and psychological care to further guide him for trauma treatment.
Pointing fingers
Belgium's chronic prison overcrowding meant that the man shared a cell that was designed for three people with five other men. The union representatives of the prison staff stressed that the incident was a direct result of overcrowding and staff shortages.
Three of his cellmates are now suspected of attempted murder, rape with aggravating circumstances of torture and degrading treatment. The two others have been found guilty of negligence and failing to stop the abuse.
Again this week, Justice Minister Paul Van Tigchelt (Open VLD) took issue with the understaffing caused by the strike in Antwerp prison at the time of the torture, which meant it took several days before a prison warden found him badly beaten. The minister said that the minimum service which should be in place during the strike was lacking, an argument that unions refute, countering that even without strikes, staff hardly have time to carry out checks in the cells as they are already overrun by carrying out core tasks.
Prison staff carried out a spontaneous strike as prison unions met with Van Tigchelt on Thursday. Since 06:00 on Friday morning, work resumed but the unions have submitted a strike notice for Monday 1 April.
