In a statement published on its website, consulted on 2 February by Lusa news agency, the Public Prosecutor's Office of the District of Lisbon announced the deduction of charges against the defendant for the practice of that type of crime, provided for in the Code of Military Justice.

"The facts occurred in October 2018, in Portalegre, in the course of a GNR training, more specifically during the so-called 'RED MAN' test, of the extendable baton course," the MP explained.

According to the indictment, the defendant "decided to exercise superior violence towards some trainees, causing them physical injuries," the statement pointed out.

Thus, the GNR instructor, also according to the indictment, "acted with awareness and will to molest the body of his subordinates, in the exercise of military functions".

The investigation was led by the 10th section of the Department of Investigation and Penal Action (DIAP) in Lisbon, assisted by the Military Judicial Police.

Last week, television stations CNN Portugal and TVI, which had access to the indictment in this case, reported that the MP "accuses João Semedo, the so-called 'Red Man' of evidence, of being the material author" of the "crimes committed" at the GNR Training Centre in Portalegre in 2018.

According to the same televisions, the magistrate understood "that excessive force was used", and described “the violence" referring to a case: "As a result of the blows dealt by the defendant", the trainee "began to stagger, not being able to see clearly".

The news of the alleged beating of trainees of the 40th course of the GNR Training Centre, in Portalegre, was advanced by Jornal de Notícias in early December 2018.

At the time, the newspaper said that about 10 trainees had suffered serious injuries and trauma during the "extendable baton course" module, which required in some cases hospital admission and surgical interventions.

According to the news report, the alleged beating reportedly took place between 1 October and 9 November.

On 3 December, 2018, the Attorney General's Office revealed to Lusa that the Public Prosecutor's Office had opened an enquiry of a criminal nature to investigate this alleged beating.

The following day, the then Minister of Internal Administration, Eduardo Cabrita, announced the exoneration of the director of the GNR's Portalegre Training Centre following this case.

CNN and TVI have now reported that João Semedo, who "was punished with 121 days of suspension in April last year" throughout the three-year investigation, "has been progressing in his career" and "is now second in command of the GNR detachment in Sintra".