Five GNR agents were due to appear in court today (see update below), charged with an alleged brutal attack on two Nepalese agricultural workers in the Odemira region last October.
The incident is described as having followed a discussion between the workers and their boss, described also as a Nepalese national.
The boss is understood to have had a “close relationship” with a GNR agent – a relationship which the PJ is still trying to clarify, says Diário de Notícias.
It may have been friendly, or it could have been “professional”.
The agent got involved in the discussion, which centred on “questions related to the situation of salaries and labour conditions”.
The ‘plight of Nepalese agricultural workers in the lower Alentejo’ has already been taken up by numerous media outlets as these people are frequently employed in appalling conditions (click here).
DN’s story says that following on from the ‘discussion’, the GNR agent called three other work colleagues and “without a warrant, invaded the home of the two workers, took them to another place, held them captive and beat them.
“The two Nepalese suffered serious injuries, one requiring treatment in hospital with various injuries to his head and body”, said the paper.
Yesterday (Wednesday), four GNR agents were arrested, followed by a fifth – identified as a director of the GNR’s independent socio-professional association ASPIG/ GNR, stationed in Odemira.
The five agents should have appeared in court today, accused of the crimes of kidnapping, invading a private residence and aggravated offenses to physical integrity.
Says DN, the men are stationed at various different police posts, including Vila Nova de Milfontes, Portalegre and Chamusca.
UPDATE
The Odemira court has suspended all five men from duty pending further investigation. One of the men – André Ribeiro, local ASPIG/ GNR representative – has been confined to house arrest. All five men have been prohibited from any contact with each other.
