Until when ?

On the evening of September 20, 2022, Hatem was having a party at home with his family. At the end of the evening, he went downstairs to take out the rubbish when his neighbor, a local police officer, opened his window and shouted insults at him for making too much noise. Hatem replied that he could do what he wanted as long as he didn't overstep the boundaries. According to Hatem, the agent became angry and threatened to kill him. His wife intervened to say that her husband was a municipal officer and could do whatever he wanted. Hatem ignored them. The officer called the police, saying that a neighbor had just disrespected his duty as a police officer. He then immediately went downstairs, grabbed a stone from the ground and hit Hatem in the face. The latter lost consciousness.

His wife, alerted by the noise, came out of the building and found the agent dragging her husband across the floor. She screamed when she saw her husband with a bloodied face, but the agent continued to kick Hatem.

Police officers arrived on the scene and put a stop to the assault. They arrested the assaulting police officer, as well as Hatem, who had just regained consciousness. Both men were taken to the local police station for questioning. Hatem accused the officer of assault, and the officer accused Hatem of insulting him while intoxicated.

After that, Hatem was able to go to the emergency room and obtain a CMI finding facial trauma that required stitches. A week later, Hatem obtained a requisition for a forensic examination, which he was able to carry out the same day. The report confirmed that Hatem had suffered a fractured nose, traces of violence on his forehead and abrasions on his legs and shoulders. His version of events is further corroborated by the testimony of two neighbors who witnessed the attack.

On October 29, following a rapid investigation, the public prosecutor referred the case to the correctional chamber of the Sfax court. He accused the agent of using violence and charged Hatem with drunkenness and defamation. The trial is still in progress.