State: Lisaan prioritized personal affairs over Ibthihaal’s case

State prosecution has accused former Commander of V. Atoll Police Station of prioritizing his personal affairs over investigating the case of abuse of three-year-old Mohamed Ibthihaal who was later found beaten to death in his home in V. Rakeedhoo on January 28, 2015.

Former Commander of V. Atoll Police Station, Lisaan Abu Bakr, along with other four State employees have been charged with negligent homicide over Ibthihaal’s death.

During the hearing at Criminal Court this Thursday, State prosecutor, Deputy Prosecutor General Mariyam Nihayath said that Ibthihaal’s abuse case was filed with V. Atoll Police Station as a high-priority case, but that Lisaan had failed to attend to it as a high-priority case.

In response, Lisaan’s lawyer denied the allegation that Lisaan prioritized his personal affairs over Ibthihaal’s case.

The lawyer said only been working as Acting Commander at the time.

He said that while cases filed with atoll police stations needed to go to an investigative officer, the station did not have an investigative officer.

The lawyer said Lisaan sent a letter to the division commander requesting an investigative officer for the station three days before Ibthihaal’s abuse case was filed with the station.

Nihaayath said the station did not have an investigative officer because he had been on leave. She said that statement provided by division commander showed his leave was approved after Lisaan provided assurances the responsibilities and duties of the investigative officer would be filled by him.

She argued that Lisaan had both the training and experience in investigation.

Lisaan’s lawyer questioned the strength of Human Rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM)’s investigation.

He said the charge against Lisaan was based on an investigation conducted without proper adherence to investigative guidelines.

He said that Lisaan was summoned to HRCM for questioning without being served a notice, but through a phone call, and that he wasn’t informed of the charge against him in writing.

DPG Nihaayath said that Lisaan was read his right to remain silent and his right to have a lawyer present by HRCM during their questioning.

She said that Lisaan’s statement to HRCM proved that he was read his rights and that he rejected the right to have a lawyer present.

The presiding judge said that concerns raised by the defense would be mulled over by the court, and that whether or not criminal prosecution of Lisaan will be proceeded with will be decided during the next hearing, scheduled for March 29.