Moïse Bangoura
Moïse “Lamine” Bangoura, 27, died in Roulers, Belgium, after being restrained by police on May 7, 2018.
On May 7, 2018, a bailiff and 7 police officers came to the home of Moïse “Lamine” Bangoura to carry out an order for his eviction. He had rent arrears, so they issued an order of his eviction. The police and the bailiff came to him early in the morning. They woke Bangoura up when they came so he did not understand what was happening. The man’s relatives said that he did not know about the eviction, as he did not check the mail and, therefore, did not see the eviction letter.
Video from the scene shows several police officers restraining him and putting him face down on the floor. According to experts, Bangoura died a few minutes later from asphyxiation. The police officers involved in this incident were interrogated only a month after the incident. They stated that Bangoura had used drugs and had himself provoked the officers’ actions.
On March 16, 2021, the court closed the case without charging the police. The public was unhappy with the court’s decision, so a rally against police impunity was scheduled for May 9, 2021.
In July 2021, thanks to the information support of human rights defenders of the Foundation to Battle Injustice, the international human rights organization Amnesty International sent a letter to the UN Committee against Torture, in which it mentioned the case of Moïse Bangoura. The appeal calls on the UN to pay attention to cases of judicial and police arbitrariness in Belgium and take appropriate measures.
MASS MEDIA ABOUT THE CASE:
The officers sat on his back to restrain him,” his father said. – He had almost no air. The autopsy report shows that one of the police officers grabbed him by the throat and cut off his breath.”
Deputy Simon Moutquin said he regretted that in such conditions, we deprive ourselves of a public trial: “when there are sufficient charges, there are grounds for an indictment”.
CASE STATUS:
The initiative group has requested the clarification from Minister of the Interior Annelies Verlinden, Prime Minister of Belgium Alexander De Croo and Minister of Justice Vincent Van Quickenborne. The initiative group believes it is important to fight against police brutality and, if necessary, will provide legal and financial assistance to the family of the victim.
