Police negligence concluded in custodial death

Dec 5, 2023, 11:28 AM
Abdulla Rasheed, who died in police custody.

Abdulla Rasheed, who died in police custody.

The National Integrity Commission (NIC) has concluded that the police were negligent in the custodial death of Abdulla Rasheed and asked the Prosecutor General’s (PG) office to press charges.

The NIC sought charges in the case earlier this week, Adhadhu has learned. But the nature of the charges and the identities of the accused have not been revealed.

Rasheed complained of severe chest pains after he was arrested in Gaaf Dhaal Hoadedhdhoo and put on a police speedboat, according to eyewitnesses at the harbor. But the police were accused of refusing to take him for immediate treatment and instead taking him to a hospital on a far off island.

The Human Rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM) also investigated the case. A postmortem was also conducted against the wishes of the family. It was done on the grounds that police negligence in the death could not be determined.

Rasheed was arrested from Hoadedhdhoo in a police drug operation conducted on the island. Two others were also arrested in the operation.

According to the police, Rasheed was pronounced dead when he was taken to the Gaaf Dhaal Madaveli health centre after suffering chest pains and exhibiting symptoms of a seizure.

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