Three Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) inspectors have been accused of the murder of Ukrainian citizen Ihor Homenyuk in March this year, and possession of a prohibited weapon. They each face 25 years in prison - the maximum sentence in Portugal.
An investigation by the Judiciary Police (PJ) concluded that on arriving in at Lisbon Airport on March 10th 2020, SEF prevented the Ukrainian citizen from entering Portugal on his tourist visa, and informed him he must return home to Turkey on a flight the following day. Authorities attempted to escort the 40-year-old man on the plane home twice, but he 'reacted badly'. After suffering injuries from the struggle he was taken to Santa Maria Hospital emergency room before before being returned to a medical assistance room, isolated from other passengers, in the airport by SEF just before midnight. It is alleged it was here Ihor Homenyuk was tied up and violently beaten by SEF inspectors Bruno Sousa, Duarte Laja and Luís Silva, eventually dying.
Although SEF described the death as natural in the report, the coroner who autopsied the body confirmed there had been a crime, alerting the Judiciary Police.
Since their arrest in late March the SEF inspectors, aged 42, 43 and 47 have not made statements: they made a “pact of silence”. They remain under house arrest until their trial, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Inspectorate-General for Internal Administration will also carry out eight disciplinary proceedings against elements of the SEF following this inquiry, as well as disciplinary proceedings towards the director and deputy director of Borders of Lisbon, to the Coordinator of the Temporary Installation Center of the airport, and of course to the three inspectors.
