Africa-Press – Angola. The delegation of the Angolan Bar Association (OAA) returned, this Wednesday, to Luena, Moxico province, to denounce alleged acts of brutality and abuses perpetrated by police forces against their members, during the exercise of their functions .
Speaking to the press, as part of a protest march against the alleged acts of aggression, the provincial delegate of the OAA in Moxico, Belmiro Chimoco, said that the lawyers in this region have been victims of the actions of the Criminal Investigation Services. (SIC).
The most recent case, according to the lawyer, was the aggression of a member within the SIC command, who was carrying out his duties.
“The colleague went to represent a constituent, to receive a signature for a power of attorney, however, the SIC decided to detain the lawyer to the point of being brutally beaten”, he said.
Belmiro Chimoco said that this year there have already been three cases of abuse of authority against lawyers in the region, a situation that he classified as “chilling”.
SIC contradicts lawyers’ version
In reaction, the spokesperson for the Criminal Investigation Service of Moxico, Elisiário dos Passos, denied the allegations of aggression against the lawyer, stating that the lawyer was detained after attacking a corporation agent, as he was prevented from contacting his constituents. outside office hours.
“The lawyer went so far as to tear the SIC agent’s clothes, a situation that forced his arrest and the lifting of a criminal case,” he said.
Elisiário dos Passos said that due to his conduct, the lawyer was subjected to a summary trial, and was convicted by the Provincial Court of Moxico, for the crime of contempt of authorities, with a sentence of 50 days in prison, converted into a fine of 330 thousand kwanzas, as well as 50 thousand in court fees.
The Moxico Bar Association has more than 70 members, a number considered negligible, judging by the estimated population density of close to one million inhabitants in the province.
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