The Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) is seeking charges against two police officers involved in the case of Adam Athuhar, 32, who died after attempting suicide while in police custody for threatening a woman at knifepoint.
HRCM Senior Media Officer Ali Zaajil Shaheed told Adhadhu that the matter had been forwarded to the Prosecutor General's (PG) Office. But he declined to provide any further details.
"We have asked the PGO to press charges against two officers involved in the case," he said.
Athuhar sustained serious head injuries when police hit him with a baton while rescuing the woman on August 29, 2024.
Athuhar was first taken into police custody on August 30 after treatment at Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH). But he was rushed back to the hospital in the evening that same day.
He was taken back into police custody on August 31, 2024. His remand was extended for the duration of the trial on that day and he was transferred to the detention center in Dhoonidhoo island.
Athuhar tried to commit suicide in his prison cell on September 1, 2024. He was transferred to Male' immediately and taken to IGMH for treatment. He died on September 2, 2024.
HRCM and the National Integrity Commission (NIC) began investigating his death. Meanwhile, police launched an internal investigation into how he was able to attempt suicide in a prison cell.
However, no details have been released by the NIC or the police.
After a post-mortem, police said he died of injuries sustained in the suicide attempt. However, his family and some members of the public blame police negligence in leading to his death.
