Thirteen low-ranking police officers charged in torture of children in 2017 camp

Prosecutor General’s Office has filed charges against 13 low-ranking police officers in a case involving torture of a group of children who lived at Kudakudhinge Hiyaa – a shelter located in suburban Vilimale’ - who attended camp held in K. Thulusdhoo back in 2017. 

A credible source told Sun the officers were charged with cruel, degrading or inhumane treatment under the Anti-Torture Act. 

The charge carries a penalty of 1-3 years in prison. 

The 13 officers charged in the case include three female officers. 

The police officers charged: 

• Fathimath Shirufa (Service Number 5156) 

• Afsana Abdul Wahhab (Service Number 3714) 

• Aishath Amsoodha (Service Number 3369) 

• Adil Ali (Service Number 2763) 

• Ikleel Jawad (Service Number 4141) 

• Shanaz Ahmed (Service Number 1864) 

• Hassan Nafiu (Service Number 4442) 

• Adam Naseem (Service Number 2083) 

• Sam Umar (Service Number 2590) 

• Ahmed Mamnoon Ali (Service Number 3594) 

• Ismail Rafeeu (Service Number 1676) 

• Hassan Rilwan (Service Number 1908) 

• Abdul Baaree Ahmed (Service Number 3600) 

The charged against the police officers were requested by the Human Rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM) following an investigation into a case involving the abuse of a group of children above the age of 12 years who were taken to a camp in Thulusdhoo organized by Maldives Police Service and Gender Ministry which was held from April 20-22, 2017. 

The police officers involved are accused of handcuffing the children to control them on the ferry on the way to Thulusdhoo, and subjecting them to verbal and physical abuse. 

Those HRCM requested charged against in the case include then-Gender Minister Aminath Zenysha Shaheed Zaki and then-head of the Family and Child Protection Unit, Chief Superintendent Mohamed Basheer. 

However, the Prosecutor General’s Office decided not to pursue charges against Basheer and two other police officers citing lack of sufficient evidence. 

The office has yet to announce its decision regarding charges against Zenysha.