E/CN.4/2004/18 page 14 outside to lie face down on the ground. The police officers searched, apparently indiscriminately, almost all the shanty-homes in the settlement for drugs, while the Roma, assembled outside, were allegedly shouted and sworn at, and subjected to racist insults. 36. It is believed that the conduct of police was deliberately intended to frighten and humiliate. One police officer allegedly pointed his gun at a 13-year-old girl. Another police officer reportedly shouted at a disabled 13-year-old boy to stand up, and then grabbed him by the arms to raise him. It is reported that when she tried to protect the latter, Yannoula Tsakiri was pushed away, kicked in the back and knocked to the ground. She was allegedly two-and-a-half months’ pregnant at the time and as a result, started to bleed. The following day she was taken to hospital where she was reportedly diagnosed with a partially detached placenta. Three days later, she reportedly suffered a miscarriage. She is believed to have filed a complaint with the Athens prosecutor’s office. The Special Rapporteurs have been informed that, according to the police authorities, an inquiry into these allegations found no evidence to support her allegations. It is also alleged that, during the raid, several other Roma were physically ill-treated by police officers. Pavlos Christodoulopoulos, aged 22, was reportedly kneed in the stomach, and Michalis Aristopoulos slapped three times. Some 15 other men were allegedly detained and taken to Aspropyrgos police station with a view to checking whether they had any outstanding traffic fines or other penalties. It is alleged that, at the police station, police officers started to beat Athanasios Sainis, who had been found to be in possession of a small amount of hashish, when he refused to state from whom he had bought it. These men were reportedly held at Aspropyrgos police station, without food or water, for the whole day. All but five, who were allegedly charged with possession of drugs, were released on the evening of 8 January 2002. Those charged were reportedly held overnight. It is alleged that, before being released, they all had their fingerprints registered, and were asked to sign statements they had given. These were allegedly not read back to those who were unable to read. 2. Response of the Government of Greece of 13 October 2003 37. As a result of information about drug trafficking at a Roma settlement in the Nea Zoi area of Aspropyrgos, on 28 January 2002 a police operation took place, with the presence of a judiciary official, during which four persons were arrested and certain quantities of drugs seized. 38. During the operation no reprehensible actions by policemen were mentioned or noticed by the police officer in charge. On 1 February 2002, Tsakiri Giannoula filed with the District Attorney a written complaint against an unknown policeman who, according to her allegations, kicked her during the operation, resulting in the abortion of the embryo she carried. A criminal indictment was brought against an unknown person by the District Attorney’s Office for violation of article 308, section 1, and 309 of the Criminal Code. A preliminary examination was ordered and is now pending. 39. Following an administrative inquiry, which was conducted by a higher-ranking police officer of the Greek police to ascertain the reliability of Mrs. Tsakiri’s accusations, and also from other accusations which came to our office regarding the above-mentioned police operation, the findings were that the above-mentioned person was not arrested and that no trace of her abuse was seen by any of the witnesses examined. Moreover, the administrative inquiry concluded that Pavlos Christodoulopoulos and Michalis Aristopoulos had not been subjected to abuse by policemen.