A man who suffered a stroke has been denied treatment and kept at the police station for six hours alleging that he was in an intoxicated state.
Ali Shiman Naseer, 41, a taxi driver, had a stroke and his car crashed near the Hulhumale' Phase-1 WAMCO Bridge at 10:45 am on Saturday. Police officers who attended the scene believed he was under the influence of drugs.
With the efforts of his family, he was released from police custody and taken to hospital where it was confirmed that he had suffered a stroke.
His elder brother Mohamed Shamoon Naseer told Adhadhu that Shiman was a heart patient and diabetic, but the police told the family he was intoxicated.
"Shiman is a heart patient. He suffered a stroke sometime ago and a tube was inserted. He is also a diabetic patient," Shamoon said.
"We went to the police station. The police told us that he cannot meet the family because they believed he was intoxicated. They told us that if his urine test comes back negative, they would release him. So we left after telling them to inform us when the results come, whether positive or negative."
The family went back to the police station when the police contacted and said Shiman was not speaking and was refusing to provide a urine sample. Shamoon said he told the police that something must be wrong if his brother was not speaking.
"[We said] Something must be wrong, let us have a look at him. Let's take him to the hospital. Didn't we tell you in the morning that he is a heart patient. They told us to bring medical reports and that the custodial would take him to the hospital afterwards. When we brought the reports, they told use to give the medicines. We refused to hand over the medicines because we didn't know his medical condition," he stated.
Shamoon said police took Shiman's urine sample after 4:00 pm and it took a long time before he was released when the results came negative.
The police said at around 6:00 pm that Shiman's release was being delayed because he had not signed the release form. Shamoon asked to be taken to Shiman and the police finally gave him the opportunity.
"[We said] he was negative and just needs to sign a release form, why wouldn't he do it soon and come out? There must be something very wrong. We didn't see him all that time. Police finally said he was unable to sign. When the family entered the detention room, he could not even recognize us."
"I called his name and he smiled. He didn't say anything. He was paralyzed on the right side of his face. Signs of a stroke were clearly visible. He had no strength in his hands. He couldn't hold anything. He was moving his fingers like he had a disability."
Shamoon said the family immediately took him to the Hulhumale' Hospital. But police tried to prevent them because he had not signed the release form.
Hulhumale' Hospital confirmed that he suffered a stroke and did a CT scan. According to the family, his condition has not improved and he is now being treated at the emergency ward in Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH).
Shamoon said the family questioned Shiman whether he provided a urine sample to the police, but he indicated through sign that he did not. The family expressed grave concern as he was kept in police custody for six hours without treatment.
The father of three, who earns a living as a taxi driver, is still unable to speak.
Attempts to reach police for comment were unsuccessful.
Shiman's family said they would take the matter to the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM).
