Daniel Tibi, a French national and gem merchant, was arrested, detained and tortured for his alleged involvement in drug trafficking. He was detained in preventive, pre-trial detention for over 2 years. During the first weeks of detention, he was subject to physical abuse including beating, burning and simulated drowning to excise self-incriminating statements. He was also transferred in the initial stages of his arrest to a detention facility over 600 kms away from his home in Quito and all requests for transfer were denied. While a Court ordered his release in 1997, he was not released until 1998 based on domestic criminal procedure requiring consultation prior to release of those charged with drug-related offenses. The Commission held the case was admissible.
Citation: Daniel David Tibi v. Ecuador (Admissibility Decision) IACHR (5 October 2000) Report No. 90/00