Victim of alleged police brutality 'used as floor rag'

(ANSA) - ROME, JUN 6 - One of the victims of alleged police brutality in Verona that led to the arrest of five police officers including an inspector on Tuesday was used as a floor rag to mop up urine, case documents have shown.
    In one episode two of the suspects are accused not only of beating a person in custody for identification purposes but also for forcing him to urinate on the floor and then using him as a "mop to clean up", according to the pre-trial detention order.
    "It cannot be denied that through their conduct all the suspects have betrayed their function, suppressing the rights and freedoms of people under their authority (and) offending their dignity as people, creating disorder themselves and compromising public safety, committing crimes rather than preventing them, in this respect clearly taking advantage of their status, even committing fraudulent misrepresentation in public acts with worrying ease," wrote the preliminary investigations judge. The five suspects are accused of crimes including torture, bodily harm and abuse of office in relation to alleged acts of violence endured by people in custody between July 2022 and March 2023.
    They had already been moved to new roles after investigators concluded a probe into the alleged brutality.
    Verona Police Chief Roberto Massucci also moved some other officers from their roles on grounds they may have failed to take action to prevent the violence or failed to report it.
    "I thank the Verona prosecutors' office for the trust given the the State police by assigning its mobile squad with the investigation regarding officers from the same department," said national Chief of Police Vittorio Pisani.
    "The moral standing of our administration enables us to face this moment with the dignity and composure of always". (ANSA).