Torture Laws compilation - Association for the Prevention of Torture

Country File
NICARAGUA
Last updated: May 2009
Region
Americas
Legal system
Civil law
UNCAT Ratification/
Accession (a)/
Succession (d)
Relevant Laws
5 July 2005
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Relevant Articles
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Constitution of 9 January 1987
Criminal Code of 2007 (Law No. 641, 13
November 2007)
The Code of Criminal Procedure
Prohibition of Torture:
- Article 36 of the Constitution
- Article 227 of the Code of Criminal
Procedure
Definition of Torture: Article 486 of the Criminal
Code
Penalties: Article 486 of the Penal Code
Others:
1. Exclusion of evidence: Articles 15 and 16 of
the Code of Criminal Procedure
Spanish (official language)
English
Other Relevant
Information
Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT) www.apt.ch
1
For any suggestions and/or comments, please contact us at laws@apt.ch.
The APT does not guarantee that this data constitutes the latest applicable laws and/or that it represents the entire
national legal framework related to torture. The contents and use of this material, including links, do not imply any
responsibility from the part of the APT. Relevant Articles – NICARAGUA
SPANISH
Constitución de 9 de enero de 1987
Artículo 36
Toda persona tiene derecho a que se respete su integridad física, psíquica y
moral. Nadie será sometido a torturas, procedimientos, penas ni a tratos
crueles, inhumanos o degradantes. La violación de este derecho constituye
delito y será penado por la ley.
Código Penal del 2007 (Ley No. 641, 13 de noviembre de 2007)
Artículo 486
Quien someta a otra persona a cualquier tipo de tortura física o psíquica con
fines de investigación penal, como medio intimidatorio, castigo personal,
medida preventiva, pena o cualquier otro fin, será sancionado con pena de
siete a diez años de prisión.
A la autoridad, funcionario o empleado público que realice alguna de las
conductas descritas en el numeral anterior se le impondrá, además de la pena
de prisión, la de inhabilitación absoluta de ocho a doce años.
La autoridad, funcionario o empleado público que no impida la comisión de
alguno de los hechos tipificados en los párrafos anteriores, cuando tenga
conocimiento y competencia para ello, será sancionado con pena de cinco a
siete años de prisión e inhabilitación especial para ejercer el empleo o cargo
público de cinco a nueve años. La misma pena se impondrá a la autoridad,
funcionario o empleado público que, teniendo conocimiento de la comisión de
alguno de los hechos señalados en los párrafos anteriores y careciendo de
competencia, omita denunciar el hecho ante la autoridad competente dentro
de las cuarenta y ocho horas siguientes, a partir del momento en que los
conoció.
Para los efectos de este Código, se entenderá por tortura causar
intencionalmente dolor o sufrimientos graves, ya sean físicos o psíquicos, a
una persona que el acusado tenga bajo su custodia o control, sin embargo no
se entenderá por tortura el dolor o los sufrimientos que se deriven únicamente
de sanciones lícitas o que sean consecuencia normal o fortuitas de ellas.
Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT) www.apt.ch
2
For any suggestions and/or comments, please contact us at laws@apt.ch.
The APT does not guarantee that this data constitutes the latest applicable laws and/or that it represents the entire
national legal framework related to torture. The contents and use of this material, including links, do not imply any
responsibility from the part of the APT. Código Procesal Penal
Artículo 15
Cualquier hecho de interés para el objeto del proceso puede ser probado por
cualquier medio de prueba lícito. La prueba se valorará conforme el criterio
racional observando las reglas de la lógica.
Artículo 16
La prueba sólo tendrá valor si ha sido obtenida por un medio lícito e
incorporada al proceso conforme a las disposiciones de este Código. Ninguno
de los actos que hayan tenido lugar con ocasión del ejercicio del principio de
oportunidad entre el ministerio público y las partes, incluyendo el
reconocimiento de culpabilidad, será admisible como prueba durante el juicio
si no se obtiene acuerdo o es rechazado por el juez competente.
Artículo 227(2)
Queda prohibida la utilización de la tortura, procedimientos o tratos crueles,
inhumanos o degradantes, y de cualquier otro medio de presión atentatorio
contra la dignidad humana en la práctica de la investigación policial.
ENGLISH (Translation)
Constitution of 9 January 1987
Article 36
Every person shall have the right to respect for his physical, psychological
and moral integrity. No-one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman
or degrading procedures, punishment or treatment. Violation of that right shall
constitute an offence punishable by law.
Penal Code of 2007 (Law No. 641, 13 November 2007)
Article 486
Anyone who subjects another person to any physical or mental torture for the
purpose of criminal investigation as a means of intimidation, personal
punishment, preventive measure, penalty or any other purpose shall be
sentenced to seven to ten years of imprisonment.
The authority, official or public employee who performs any of the acts
described in the preceding paragraph shall be imposed, in addition to
imprisonment, disqualification of eight to twelve years.
Authority, official or public employee who may not prevent the commission of
any of the acts defined in the preceding paragraphs, when they have the
knowledge and competence to do so, shall be punished by five to seven years
Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT) www.apt.ch
3
For any suggestions and/or comments, please contact us at laws@apt.ch.
The APT does not guarantee that this data constitutes the latest applicable laws and/or that it represents the entire
national legal framework related to torture. The contents and use of this material, including links, do not imply any
responsibility from the part of the APT. imprisonment and disqualified for the use or exercise of public office for five to
nine years. The same penalty shall be imposed on the authority, official or
public employee who, having knowledge of the commission of any of the facts
outlined above and lack of competition, he fails to denounce the fact to the
competent authority within forty-eight hours following, from the moment they
knew it.
For purposes of this Code, torture is defined as intentionally causing pain or
suffering, whether physical or mental, upon an accused person in their custody
or control, however, torture does not mean pain or suffering deriving only from
legal penalties or incidental or consequence of them.
Code of Criminal Procedure
Article 15
Any fact related to the object of the trial may be proved by any means of lawful
evidence. The evidence shall be assessed on rational criteria observing the
rules of logic.
Article 16
Evidence shall only be valid if it has been obtained by lawful means and
incorporated into the proceedings in accordance with the provisions of this
Code. No proceedings which have taken place pursuant to the principle of
discretion between the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Parties, including
plea-bargaining, shall be admissible as evidence during the proceedings
where no agreement has been reached or where it is dismissed by the
competent court.
Article 227(2)
The use of torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or procedures and
of any other method of applying pressure prejudicial to human dignity is
prohibited in police investigations.
Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT) www.apt.ch
4
For any suggestions and/or comments, please contact us at laws@apt.ch.
The APT does not guarantee that this data constitutes the latest applicable laws and/or that it represents the entire
national legal framework related to torture. The contents and use of this material, including links, do not imply any
responsibility from the part of the APT.