The death of Andrei Braguta in penitentiary revealed the problems that have persisted in the justice system of the Republic of Moldova for many years. Therefore, the authorities should intervene urgently. If the problems are not solved, a similar case can anytime occur, IPN quotes lawyers of Promo-LEX Association as saying.
In a news conference on September 5, lawyer Vadim Vieru said it was known that the young man suffered from mental disorders. When Andrei Braguta was taken to the Ciocana Police Inspectorate, the police officer who questioned the man noticed his deviant behavior. Also then, the policeman was informed about the state of health of Braguta by his father, but nothing was done. He didn’t at least want to discuss over the phone with the doctor of the Balti Psychiatric Hospital, who supervised Andrei Braguta.
According to Vadim Vieru, the prosecutor in charge asked for an arrest warrant, ignoring the fact that the young man needed medical assistance. “The prosecutor should have realized what was wrong with Andrei Braguta. This continued to behave violently and the invoked influence of alcohol or drugs was already out of the question. The young man should have been examined, not placed under arrest,” stated the lawyer.
Andrei Braguta was put in a cell together with other detainees who were violent and maltreated him. The ambulance was called by the victim’s relatives for several times as these were concerned about the man’s state of health, but no medical assistance was provided. At Penitentiary No. 13, where Andrei Braguta was held, his bodily inquiries weren’t documented. The necessary actions weren’t taken either at Hospital No. 16 of the Department of Penitentiary Institutions, where the victim died. “The doctors there had to call an ambulance and to place him in a specialized medical institution given that his state of health worsened considerably,” said Vadim Vieru.
Lawyer Dumitru Sliusarenco said the persons with mental disorders should be treated specifically when they are in state custody. The lack of the necessary medical assistance further affected the young man’s state of health. “Even if he was in a critical state due to his mental disorder, the police didn’t provide the necessary assistance. The legal system of the Republic of Moldova is not ready to cope with situations that involve persons with mental disorders,” he stated.
Promo-LEX executive director Ion Manole said the authorities should not only impose penalties and conduct investigations. The reforms done in the sector after 2009 should be reassessed.
The 32-year-old man was arrested after he came into a conflict with patrolling inspectors who imposed a fine for speeding on him in the middle of August. The General Police Inspectorate specified that the young man died from respiratory failure and purulent bronchopneumonia and this fact was confirmed by medical certificates. The bruises that the young man had on the body were the result of aggression on the part of his cell mates, who said that Braguta had a deviant behavior.
