Slovak former policemen found guilty of torturing Romany to death

The Banska Bystrica Regional Court today found guilty seven Slovak former policemen of having tortured Romany Karol Sendrei to death in 2001 and gave them prison sentences and suspended prison sentences.

Most of the defendants said they would appeal the verdict.

Miroslav Sisik and Jan Kubej who, according to the court, were most actively involved in the torture of Sendrei at the police station in Revuca, received the highest 8.5-year sentences.

Ladislav Kiss will spend 7 years in prison and Roman Rojko four years.

Igor Guzak and Marek Urban received 18-month suspended sentences with a two-year probation and Ondrej Hudak received a 2-year suspended sentence with a 3-year probation.

The case took place in Magnezitovce near Revuca, east Slovakia, in the house of the local mayor whom Sendrei visited with his sons.

Police interfered after a clash between the mayor and Romanies. They arrested Sendrei, 51, and other Romanies, including two Sendrei’s sons.

According to the charges, at the police station they tied Sendrei to a radiator and beat him the whole night. The man had ten ribs broken as one of the policemen allegedly jumped upon his chest several times.

Sendrei suffered fatal injuries of all internal organs to which he succumbed.