"The Special Rapporteur found that torture is used systematically by the police against persons who refuse to “cooperate”, such as persons suspected of political as well as ordinary crimes, in particular at the Central Police Stations in Bata and Malabo. The gendarmerie appears to practise torture to a lesser extent. The Special Rapporteur was unable to verify allegations against the military because he was denied access to military facilities.

The types of abuse reported to him and corroborated by expert medical analysis, and evidence found in the respective police stations, include: blows to various parts of the body, although often on the soles of the feet and/or the buttocks, using police batons, rubber-coated cables and wooden sticks; electric shocks delivered by battery cables attached to different parts of the body with alligator clips; various forms of suspension, with hands and feet tied together, including the so-called “Ethiopian style”, for extended periods of time. In these positions the victims were swung around and beaten, or heavy objects, for example car batteries, were placed on their backs. Furthermore, they were sometimes blindfolded or forced to inhale candle smoke. In most instances, the purpose of the torture was to extract information or a confession; sometimes it was intended as punishment or intimidation or a means of extorting money..."

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