Police officer cannot be prosecuted for not cooperating with election: Commissioner Riyaz

Commissioner of Police Abdulla Riyaz has said that criminal charges cannot be pressed against a police officer for not cooperating with the efforts to hold the election on 19 October.

Speaking at a ceremony held to inaugurate a police station in Gaafu Alifu Maamendhoo, Riyaz said that he will not allow a police officer to be ‘murdered’ after every minor incident.

He said that the Police Integrity Commission (PIC) noted in its report that the institution that best cooperated and assisted the Elections Commission in its efforts to hold the election, is the Maldives Police Service.

He said that the report also states that proper communication took place between the Elections Commission and the Police during the efforts to hold the election.

Riyaz said that the police undertook several tasks for the sake of national peace and order, that were not required as part of cooperating with the election.

“The police did many things they did not necessarily have to do,” he said.