The Romanian State was ordered by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) to pay 7,000 euros in damages to citizen Mircea Dan Butiuc for the degrading treatment he was subjected to during his detention in prison at Poarta Albă, a press release by ECHR informs, according to Agerpres.
The complaint was lodged by Romanian citizens Mircea Dan Butiuc and Andrei Dumitrof in 2007, but the second announced the ECHR he dropped the legal suit in June 2013.
Mircea Dan Butiuc was convicted in 2006 for drug trafficking to eight years in prison, being detained in the Poarta Alba facility. He was released on parole in 2010 and currently lives in Constanta.
Both men complained to the ECHR about the inhuman and degrading treatment to which they were subjected while in detention.
Mircea Dan Butiuc complained that he had to live in a cell of 35 square meters with 14 other prisoners, without proper ventilation. In addition, he complained of the lack of hygiene and heating in winter, and that the cell was infested with lice and bugs. Finally, he complained that he was regularly forced to undress to be searched, and that he was subjected to intimidation by prison guards.
The ECHR ruled that Article 3 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, concerning the prohibition of torture and degrading treatment had been violated and ordered the Romanian State to pay Mircea Dan Butiuc damages of EUR 7,000 and the expenses judgment of 35 euros.