On March 6, Civil Rights Defenders handed in a request for compensation to the Chancellor of Justice (CJ) in the high-profile case about Sinthu Selvarajah, the 28-year-old man who died in connection with a police intervention.
Compensation totaling 2,687,824 kronor (282,000 euros) is demanded from the state for Sinthu's death.
Pepper spray and a plastic bag
At the end of 2014, 28-year-old Sinthu Selvarajah suffered a psychosis and was admitted to the inpatient department at the hospital in Västerås. A few days later, his condition worsened and staff members called the police for assistance.
By the time police arrived, Sinthu had fled into a room. Several police officers entered the room and used extensive physical violence, several cans of pepper spray, and a plastic bag which they put over his mouth. Sinthu died as a result of the police officers' intervention.
CRD demands compensation
Civil Rights Defenders, which represents four of Sinthu's family members, demands compensation on the following grounds:
- The police authority made the decision to intervene and use force despite the fact that Sinthu did not pose a threat to himself or anyone else.
- The police did not cease the disproportionate violence that Sinthu was subjected to.
- Both the prosecuting authority and the police have failed in their subsequent actions and investigation of Sinthu's death.
"These are serious violations which we demand that the state take responsibility for," says Robert Hårdh, executive director of Civil Rights Defenders.
Click here to read Civil Rights Defenders's request for compensation (Swedish, edited version).
Read more about Civil Rights Defenders' work for Sinthu's case:
Fallet Sinthu Selvarajah läggs ned – uttalande (Swedish)
Civil Rights Defenders utkräver ansvar för dödligt polisvåld (Swedish)
