Demotion of policemen accused of beating suspect under review

Seven policemen from the Drug Enforcement Department were suspended after the incident was caught in an amateur video that showed four people beating up a foreigner inside a residence in the capital Malé.   

But the policemen were not arrested despite a public outcry. In late July, the DED officers were relieved of duty and placed under investigation by the Professional Standards Command. Based on the inquiry, the Disciplinary Committee decided last Wednesday to demote the seven policemen, remove badges of discipline and to shuffle them to different departments. 

The case is now at the Appeals Committee after the police chief requested a reexamination, a police media official said on Monday. The case will be forwarded to the Prosecutor General’s office after the medical report of the 36-year-old victim is received, the media official said.