The Foundation For The Defense Of Citizens Against State Abuses (FACIAS) is calling for the dismissal of the two Pașcani Local Police officers who assaulted Viorel Obreja, a 70-year-old pensioner with heart problems.
The incident occurred after the man allegedly refused to show his ID after drinking a beer. Witnesses claim that he was not aggressive, but the police officers dragged him away by force, knocked him to the ground, and one of the officers pressed his knee on the man's head before handcuffing him. The elderly man became ill and required medical attention. Until the ambulance arrived, he was held on the ground on the sidewalk with his hands cuffed. He was later transported to the hospital.
FACIAS warns that the two police officers broke Article 20(f) of Local Police Law No. 155/2010, which says that force should be used in a way that fits the situation. From witness statements and images appearing in the public domain, it is clear that the victim was not aggressive, which makes the intervention disproportionate and abusive.
FACIAS emphasizes that the unjustified actions of the two police officers seriously undermine public confidence in law enforcement and the local police, an institution already viewed with skepticism by Romanian society.
FACIAS will monitor the investigation conducted by the authorities into the case of the two police officers, calling for firm measures to be taken to send a clear message that abuses committed by state law enforcement agencies will never be overlooked.