Police are reviewing the case of a stroke victim who was kept in custody for six hours as officers believed he was intoxicated.

Police said appropriate action would be taken if there was any violation or negligence.

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.

Police said the man was taken into custody and released after his urine sample tested negative for drugs.

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 some time ago and a tube was inserted. He is also a diabetic patient," Shamoon said.

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 back 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.

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).

Shiman's family said they would take the matter to the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM).