The Central Court of Criminal Investigation has sent to trial two PSP agents accused by the Public Prosecutor’s Office in January of torture and sexual abuse involving detainees at the Rato police station, in Lisbon. One of the defendants is a 22-year-old native of Porto Santo who has been in pre-trial detention since his arrest in July 2025. He faces 29 crimes, including six of torture, five of rape, seven of abuse of power, and several other offences such as document forgery, aggravated theft, violation of correspondence, robbery and possession of a prohibited weapon. The second officer, 26 years old and born in Porto Santo, was also arrested in July 2025 and is currently under house arrest. He is accused of seven crimes, among them two of torture, three of abuse of power, one offence to physical integrity, and possession of a prohibited weapon. According to the indictment, between July 2024 and March 2025 the two officers allegedly assaulted and sexually abused detainees, while also filming and photographing many of the incidents. The judge said the evidence gathered during the investigation was extensive, consistent and supported by video and forensic material, and concluded that there is a serious probability of conviction at trial.
