Filipe Silva, the policeman who violently attacked two men after a football match in Guimarães last Sunday, has put himself at risk of an eight year jail sentence.
Silva has not apologised to José Magalhães (pictured) or his father, both of whom were attacked by the PSP commandante in front of José's 9 and 13 year-old children outside the Guimarães stadium.
A formal complaint against Silva’s violent behaviour was presented in court yesterday with statements from eight eye-witnesses who saw an attack which appeared to lack and credible legal motivation.
Businessman José Magalhães formally has accused the officer of two crimes of bodily harm each carrying a possible prison term of four years.
The complaint refers to an abuse of power, excessive use of force, and of aggression in the case of the 70-year-old father who twice was punched in the face by the angry officer.
Silva claims that Magalhães spat in his face, an allegation denied by Magalhães and the eye-witnesses. Even if this were true, the violence of the resulting attack was far in excess of any legitimate response.
As the attack was filmed and broadcast live, fans who had gathered in Lisbon watched it on the big screen in Marquês de Pombal square and reacted violently, later clashing with police in a night of violence.
Alongside the court action by Magalhães vs Comandante Silva there also is an internal investigation in to the Guimarães incident and into the violent clashes in Lisbon. A report must be produced within 30 days.
Peace-loving Portugal is let down by this sort of incident which not only was broadcast live, but later was seen across the world with the clip available almost instantly on YouTube.
The point of contact for many visitors to Portugal is at roadside police inspections which are intimidating and scary with officers often noted for their fundraising skills rather than communication abilities.
Riot police in full battle dress called to the open market at Barão de São João in the Algarve market hit the headlines as an example of disproportionate police action which left some in tears and many visibly distressed and intimidated.
'Proportinality' is often the complaint from the public which understands the need for a robust police force, but feels there has been an increasing in heavy-handedness, especially where motoring fines are concerned.
Filipe Silva, already known as a ‘handy’ policemen, filmed using a baton to hit a man already down on the ground, claims that Magalhães ‘provoked him’ because he know there was a cameraman nearby. The clip of the incident now has been viewed worldwide.
Knowing there was a film crew nearby was all the more reason for Silva to behave in a dignified manner that would have been a credit to his uniform, rather than making a name for himself for batoning an unarmed man already on the ground and thus gaining unwanted worldwide attention.
Whatever the result of the inquiry and court case, the damage to Portugal’s peace-loving image is done.
See also the BBC News report 'They hate black people'
http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-32419952?post_id=10153329395644948_10153330000884948#_=_
