Watchdog denies seeking charges over custodial death

The Human Rights Commission of Maldives has denied media reports of seeking charges over the custodial death of a Maafushi jail inmate whose family alleges he was denied treatment.

Contacted for comment, HRCM president Aminath Eanas told the Maldives Independent that the investigation was ongoing seven months later and refused to comment further. She did not respond when asked whether any discussions have taken place with the Prosecutor General’s office.

The PG spokesman said the HRCM has yet to forward the case.

The five-member rights watchdog later expressed concern about speculation in the media.

“Upon closure the commission will send the investigation report to relevant authorities and should there be anything which needs to be prosecuted, HRCM will act accordingly,” the commission tweeted. “The Commission urges the media and all individuals to refrain from spreading speculations and baseless accusations regarding the case.”

HRCM launched its investigation on October 10, the same day the inmate Abdulla Rasheed died while undergoing treatment in Malé. The 51-year-old was serving a five-year sentence on assault charges.

His passing was the seventh custodial death in two years.

Rasheed was ill with severe diarrhoea and vomiting three days prior to his death, sources said. He died from hypovolemic shock due to upper gastrointestinal bleeding, according to his death certificate.

He was arrested at a May Day anti-government rally in 2015 when 25,000 people turned out on the streets demanding the release of former president Mohamed Nasheed. Rasheed was found guilty of kicking a police officer.