Probes begin into Abdulla Rasheed custodial death

Two separate investigations are under way into the death of a Maafushi inmate who died while being treated at a Malé hospital, with his family alleging he was denied medical treatment.

The Human Rights Commission of the Maldives and the National Integrity Commission are probing the custodial death on October 10 of Abdulla Rasheed, who was serving a five-year sentence on assault charges.

“The commission initiated and launched an investigation into Abdulla Rasheed’s custodial death on Tuesday,” National Integrity Commission president Yoosuf Maniu told the Maldives Independent.

“We investigate all custodial deaths, regardless of a complaint or not. The commission initiated an investigation on the day of his death,” said HRC spokeswoman Hawwa Wajda Gasim.

Abdulla Rasheed was arrested at a May Day rally in 2015, when 25,000 people turned out on the streets demanding the release of former president Mohamed Nasheed. Abdulla Rasheed was arrested for kicking a police officer.

He had been ill with severe diarrhoea and vomiting three days prior to his death, sources said.

But Maldives Correctional Service said he had been reported ill and hospitalised on the same day. His is the seventh custodial death in two years.