Fifteen-year-old Ruben Cavaco is understood to be slowly recovering at a hospital in Lisbon from serious injuries including multiple fractures which left him in an induced coma for almost a week.
He was attacked by the Iraqi Ambassador’s 17-year-old twin sons following an altercation in Ponte de Sor on Wednesday 17 August.
Cavaco was brought out of his coma last Tuesday and now reportedly recognises family members but is not yet fit to speak to police.
In an interview with Portuguese television channel SIC last week, the two young Iraqis admitted beating up the younger boy, but said that they never had the “intention of hurting someone so seriously”. They sent “sincere and heartfelt apologies” to the victim and his family.
They also said they would stay in Portugal until the case is cleared up and that they would not invoke diplomatic immunity, accepting their responsibilities and facing the consequences.
Portugal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has submitted a request to the ambassador that the diplomatic immunity of his 17-year-old sons be lifted, so that they may be interrogated as suspects in the criminal investigation that has been opened.
The move was made at the request of public prosecutors overseeing the investigation, who declared that it was “essential for the clarification of the facts” that they be questioned.