Portugal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs today has called for the lifting of diplomatic immunity covering the twin sons of the Iraqi ambassador who were involved in an attack that left a 15-year-old Portuguese boy seriously hurt.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued the formal request to an embassy official asking the Iraqis to waive the diplomatic immunity of the twins. The next stage is for Baghdad to decide whether to act on the request.
Yesterday afternoon is was not clear whether a formal request would be made but as the facts of the case build a picture of a sickening drunken assault on August 18th in Ponte de Sor, Alentejo and the use of a vehicle to run over Rúben Cavaco before he was kicked in the head until senseless, the case will not go away and the Portuguese press has been calling for action on behalf of an outraged public.
The Public Ministry (in charge of prosecutions) stated yesterday that it is "essential for the facts to be clarified" and that the two Iraqi 17-year-olds are formally interviewed as ‘arguidos’ - official suspects, knowing this only could be achieved when immunity is lifted, and that they may face charges of attempted homicide.
Cavaco suffered multiple fractures to his skull and was transferred to the Santa Maria Hospital in Lisbon where he was put in an induced coma. He now is out of intensive care but remains in a very poorly state.
The two suspects are sons of the Iraqi ambassador to Portugal, Saad Mohammed Ali, and as such are covered by diplomatic immunity under the Vienna Convention.
