Senegal accuses police of 'savagely beating' one of its Ottawa diplomats
Global Affairs Canada says it is "extremely concerned" about allegations that a Senegalese diplomat was detained and beaten by police last week.
"What happened was simply unacceptable," Sabrine Barakat, a spokeswoman for Global Affairs wrote in an email Saturday.
The Senegalese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the diplomat, who works at the West African nation's embassy in Ottawa, was restrained and assaulted at her Gatineau, Que., home on Aug. 2.
She was "handcuffed and savagely beaten, to the point that she had difficulty breathing, which led to her being taken to the hospital by ambulance," the ministry said in a release dated Thursday but only made public on Friday.
The ministry did not immediately offer further details on her condition.
The Gatineau Police Service said in a news release, issued Friday evening in response to the claims made by the Senegalese government, that officers were called to assist a bailiff who was attempting to execute a court order on Tuesday afternoon.
Police said the subject of the court order, identified only as a woman with diplomatic status, was "aggressive and refused to cooperate."
They alleged that when officers attempted to explain the process, the woman struck a female police officer in the face.
The officers then decided to arrest the woman "for the safety of everyone present," according to the release. Police alleged the woman resisted arrest, bit another officer and was then tackled to the ground, where she was restrained.
The bailiff then carried out the court order while the woman was "detained in the back of a patrol vehicle, under the supervision of a police officer," the police statement said. "At no time did the person mention being injured or in pain when questioned."
Police say they were called back to the same location, around an hour and a half after they first arrived, by paramedics who were treating the woman, but did not offer further details, only saying that around 10 people were present.
The Senegalese government said the charge d'affairs at the Canadian Embassy in Dakar, the Senegalese capital, was summoned to the Foreign Affairs Ministry so officials could "vigorously denounce and strongly condemn this racist and barbaric act."
A note of protest has been sent to the Canadian government, it said.
"The government of Senegal has demanded that an investigation be launched without delay and that charges be brought against the perpetrators of this unacceptable assault, which constitutes a serious infringement of the person's physical integrity and human dignity, as well as a flagrant violation of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations," the ministry said.
Barakat said Canada takes its obligations under the convention -- which gives diplomats immunity from any form of detention or arrest -- very seriously.
"We are working diligently with the different levels of government involved and look forward to a thorough investigation," she wrote. "Minister Joly is in contact with her Senegalese counterpart. Canada will continue to fully cooperate with Senegal to address this regrettable situation."
Gatineau police said they've notified provincial and federal authorities about the incident and that they've asked the province's prosecution service to lay charges of assaulting a police officer and obstructing a police officer. In Quebec, the decision of whether to lay charges is made by the prosecution service.
The police service said it will not comment further, due to the possibility of judicial proceedings, but that it will cooperate with any investigations.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 6, 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada outlines national action plan to fight auto theft
The federal government is launching what it calls its 'national action plan' to combat auto thefts, which will include stronger penalties for thieves, and increased information sharing between police agencies, government officials and border enforcement.
U.S. Supreme Court rejects appeal from former Guantanamo detainee Omar Khadr
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal by a Canadian-born former Guantanamo detainee who was seeking to wipe away his war crimes convictions, including for killing a U.S. soldier in Afghanistan.
What is BORG drinking, and why is it a dangerous trend? An expert explains
If you've been to a party lately and haven't seen someone drinking a BORG, you're likely not partying with college students.
Iran's president and foreign minister die in helicopter crash at moment of high tensions in Mideast
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and the country's foreign minister were found dead Monday hours after their helicopter crashed in fog, leaving the Islamic Republic without two key leaders as extraordinary tensions grip the wider Middle East.
Michael Cohen says he stole from Trump's company as defence presses key hush money trial witness
Former Donald Trump attorney Michael Cohen admitted Monday to jurors in the Republican's hush money trial that he stole tens of thousands of dollars from Trump's company as defence lawyers seized on the star witness' misdeeds to attack his credibility.
The world's best airline is paying staff a bonus of 8 months' salary
Singapore Airlines will reward its employees with a bonus worth nearly eight months of salary, a person familiar with the matter told CNN on Friday.
Woman, 35, in critical condition after her truck collided with a Via Rail train near Montreal
A 35-year-old woman is in critical condition after the pick-up truck she was driving was struck by a Via Rail passenger train Monday morning in Quebec's Monteregie region.
Canucks' Brock Boeser out for decisive Game 7 vs. Oilers: coach
Canucks star Brock Boeser will miss Game 7 of Vancouver's second-round playoff series Monday against the Edmonton Oilers, according to reports.
Investors watching posts from 'Crypto King' in the wake of fraud, money laundering charges
Former investors of the self-styled “Crypto King” say they are watching his social media accounts and worried his displays of wealth are signs he’s spending their money, even now, as another large expense tied to Aiden Pleterski has triggered a previously unreported lawsuit.