Presidential commission seeks charges over prisoner’s death

The Presidential Commission on Deaths and Disappearances has asked police to seek charges against prison officials over the death of a prisoner in November 2016.

It was the first case concluded by the commission since it was formed last year.

Hussan Zareer, 28, died while undergoing treatment at the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital on November 8, 2016, less than 24 hours after he was brought to the capital from Maafushi prison. He died after spending more than 10 months in prison without standing trial.

The presidential commission did not disclose any details in its Twitter announcement.

But the Maldives Independent has learned that the commission is seeking charges against several employees of the Maldives Correctional Services, including staff from its medical department.

Zareer’s death had previously been investigated by the police in 2016, which also concluded that it was linked to negligence. But the file was later closed.  

The presidential commission asked police to send the findings of its probe to the Prosecutor General’s office.

Zareer was the third man to die in custody in 2016. All three deceased prisoners had been awaiting trial.