TW
0
STAFF REPORTER

PALMA
CENTRAL Government delegate to the Balearic Islands, Ramon Socias, denied yesterday he gave an illegal order “not to handcuff” the five suspects arrested in the Palma Arena corruption probe.

After Partido Popular outrage over claims their members were being shamed by the police and “denied their human rights” whilst being held in prison prior to a Court hearing, Socias said that he had “left it up to the police” to decide whether or not to use handcuffs so as not to impinge on their own decision-making process.

Socias' statement came in response to a Police Union demand that he resign for having given a “no handcuffs” order, allegedly in direct contravention to state security protocol on the handling of those in police custody. However, sources at the Central Government Delegation yesterday said that Socias had been referring to a section of the same protocol which states that police can use their discretion about how to treat a detainee according to the nature of the alleged crime and whether or not the reputation of a suspect will be damaged if he were to appear in handcuffs.