Four inspectors of the Criminal Police of the Căușeni Police Inspectorate were sentenced to five years behind bars each, being found guilty of using torture with the assistance of specially adjusted instruments, IPN reports.

According to the Prosecutor General’s Office, the incident occurred in May 2012. To extract statements about a theft, the police officers maltreated an inhabitant of Fârlădeni village in the office of one of the inspectors. The victim was threatened with deprivation of freedom and was ill-treated. The man complained to the Prosecutor’s Office, which took legal action and the police officers stood trial.

The sentence was passed by the Chisinau City Appeals Court after the ordinary court of law two years ago gave suspended sentences to the inspectors. The culprits didn’t attend the last hearing and are to be caught and jailed.

The judgement is definitive and executory, but can be challenged in the Supreme Court of Justice.