How do you claim compensation for the unlawful activities of investigating authorities?
Right to compensation
You can seek compensation if you suffered damages as a result of police mistreatment during an investigation. You may suffer damages that result in material losses. Mistreatment may also leave psychological effects and suffering, for which you can seek moral compensation.
Compensation in a criminal case
An investigator may open a criminal case against police officers on the basis of your complaint. In this situation, you can seek compensation for damages as a victim in criminal proceedings. If the compensation claim cannot or cannot fully redress your damages within criminal proceedings, you have a right to seek these damages by filing a civil claim as well. In some cases, you as a victim, also have the right to compensation from the State. Read more about this in the Vistim Support Act.
Compensation in criminal proceedings
There may also be situations where the actions of the police officers will not qualify as a criminal offence. But this does not necessarily mean that certain activities of the police officers during the investigation did not violate your rights. In these situations, you can ask for compensation for damages by submitting the written application for compensation to the Prosecutor’s office if the Prosecutor’s Office has not gone to the court with your case. If your proceeding is gone to court then you can submit an application for compensation for damage to court before the end of examination by the court. The court decides on compensation for damage by a ruling or judgment.