Call for probe into “inhuman” treatment of Palma Arena suspects

PALMA
THE Partido Popular (PP), in opposition in government in the Balearic Islands, have called on Central Government's Interior Ministry to open an investigation into what the PP describe as “inhuman” treatment of their party members who are suspects in the Palma Arena corruption scandal.

Amongst the five who were arrested on suspicion of misappropriation of public funds resulting from the construction of the Palma Arena are Rafa Duran, PP spokesman on Palma City Council and Jose Luis Ballester who was ex director of Sports in the last Balearic government led by President Jaume Matas. They reportedly remained 72 hours in police cells before being transferred to the Court hearing in handcuffs. Both men are now out of prison on bail. The PP party claim that the human rights of the suspects were violated during the time they were held by the National Police and that they were taken to Court in a vehicle normally reserved for dangerous criminals.