ABSTRACT
Under the country’s criminal procedure, suspects can be held by the police before being formally charged for up to 23 days. During these 23 days, the detainee is subject to heavy-handed interrogation techniques that sometimes amount to torture, such as sustained sleep deprivation, refusal of contact with family members, and standing or sitting still for long periods in extremely uncomfortable positions. Access to legal counsel is prohibited during interrogation sessions, and criminal suspects are often convicted by the courts on the basis of confessions obtained through these means.
