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7 Angolan policemen sentenced to 24 years in jail

23 Mar 2010 09:59

(Islam Times) - Seven Angolan police officers have been sentenced to 24 years in jail each for killing a group of young men two years ago in Luanda, a slum in the capital.

Islam Times reports from Press TV: The case has been considered as a rare case of punishment to try to end widespread police brutality in the country.

The case stems from a 2008 incident in which police ordered eight men in Luanda's Sambizanga neighborhood to lie face down on the ground and then shot them at close range in July 2008.

Judge Salomao Filipe said there was no evidence that the accused had been ordered by superiors to carry out the killings, although the shooting took place during a police operation aimed at ending gang violence.

"Although the defendants may have believed that the young men were criminals, their actions are unjustifiable," said Filipe. "Each will get 24 years in jail."

Story Code: 22427