The Maldives Journalists Association (MJA) has decided to file complaints against two police officers to the National Integrity Commission (NIC) over the alleged beating of a journalist on May 22.
Hamdhan Ahmed, a multi-media journalist for One Online, alleged that the police had arrested him while operating a drone in Hulhumale' Phase 2 and had beaten him in the police station.
In a statement on Saturday, the MJA did not condemn the police officers and advised journalists to obey the rules.
But an incident report was released on Sunday, in which the MJA said there was room to believe police brutality had taken place.
Police had used phrases such as "journalists cannot be arrogant," "will beat you up," and "you will end up like [missing journalist Ahmed] Rilwan," to intimidate Hamdhan.
"The association will submit the case to the National Integrity Commission for further investigation and complain against the two police officers who went to the scene," the MJA stated.
In a post on Facebook, Hamdhan said he was testing the drone and flew it up to seven feet when two police officers approached him and demanded he show a permit for operating drones.
Hamdhan said police began using profanities towards him when they found the press accreditation card in his wallet.
He made a Facebook live of the incident with the police. Both the police and Hamdhan could be heard using offensive language.
He alleged that they detained him, took him to the police station in Hulhumale Phase 2 and beat his face while strangling him. Hamdhan said five police officers were involved in beating him.
“The association will closely monitor Hamdhan's situation and provide him with legal assistance if needed,” the MJA said.
In a message to the media, police denied any police brutality and said they were looking into the matter.
Police said Hamdhan was not arrested, but was taken to the police station for questioning after he used offensive language and refused to obey police orders and show the permit to operate the drone.
