Portugal’s Prosecutor's Office is to pursue its investigation into the assault on Rúben Cavaco, the young man from Ponte de Sor so savagely beaten up by the Iraqi Ambassador’s twin sons last August.
The investigation will continue, despite an out-of-court agreement announced between the parties, a source in the Attorney General's Office has revealed.
"The Public Prosecutor's Office does not rule on out-of-court settlements. The investigation is underway, and the documentation received from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is under review," according to a statement sent on Friday.
The family of the young man considers that with the agreement "the case is closed".
Dina Fouto, a lawyer for one of the two Iraqi youths accused of assaulting the Portuguese lad, said the two parties reached "an out-of-court settlement" and that the family therefore has dropped its complaint." The compensation figure is said to be €40,000 or €65,000 depending on the source.
"The victim is considered to have been compensated from a moral and compensatory point of view," added Santana Maia Leonardo, Rúben Cavaco's lawyer, who did not reveal the amount paid under the agreement.
Contacted by Expresso, Santana-Maia Leonardo, lawyer of Reuben Cavaco, considers that, for the young man "the matter is closed."
The attack occurred on August 17, 2016, when 16-year-old Rúben Cavaco was beaten up in Ponte de Sor, Portalegre district, by the sons of Saad Mohammed Ali. He needed reconstructive surgery in Lisbon, so bad were his injuries.
The Iraqis had until Friday 13th, an extended deadline, to respond to Portugal’s request that diplomatic immunity be lifted from the twins to enable a full inquiry to be completed.
The compensation payment dies not halt this process and Portugal’s foreign affair minister now must decide his course of action.
See also: 'Iraqis dodge deadline in diplomatic immunity row'
