Mother of man who died in police custody: Will not complain, pleading to return the body

The mother of the man who died whilst in police custody, Mariyam Ahmed, on Thursday, expressed the intention not to bring any complaint against any authority in connection to her son’s death, pleading for the return of his body to the family.

Abdulla Rasheed, 43, was arrested in a counter-drug operation from a café near the harbor of GDh. Hoadedhdhoo at approximately 02:15 pm Tuesday. The police hired a private speedboat to transport him to another island. He died en route.

According to the family, Abdulla had repeatedly complained of chest pains when the police had him board the boat, and the officers there dismissed it as an act and denied him medical treatment.

Police have decided to perform an autopsy to determine the cause of death. Abdulla’s body was transported to Male’ City on Tuesday, and has been stored at the Galolhu Mortuary ever since.

His family met with the press on Thursday, explaining the events leading up to his death.

Abdulla’s mother, Mariyam, said that police officers, in plain clothes, had taken Abdulla on Tuesday, at approximately 3:50pm. She said that the officers had him board speedboat, before she was able to meet him. She said that Abdulla complained of chest pains, after boarding the boat.

“His chest pains started after he boarded the boat. Because of how intense the pain was, he started pacing inside the boat. After a lot of pacing, he requested to be taken to the hospital. That he was dying because of the chest pain. Then, they (police officers) said he was faking,” she had said.

She said that Parliament’s member of Madaveli constituency Hussain Firushan, Vice President of Council Ahmed Shiham and the manager of the hospital on the island had gone to the scene at that moment and requested Abdulla be taken to the hospital – which the police had refused to comply with.

Mariyam said that the hospital’s manager had asked permission to bring a doctor to the scene, if Abdulla cannot be taken to the hospital.

“He died two hours after that. Without informing us of his death, they went and threw his body to Madaveli. A resident from Madaveli called and said, your son has died. By the time I boarded a vessel and arrived at Madaveli, my son was dead,” she added.

Mariyam went on to state that she assumed Abdulla’s body was transported to Male’, as he had family residing in the city, for them to see the body. Nevertheless, she said the body has been kept at mortuary, and the family has been denied entrance to the premise.

“I did say it was time to take his body to the cemetery, and bury him. They said a postmortem has to be conducted. They said that before too. But, I did say I did not wish additional harm on my son. That we wished to perform last rites, and bury him,”

“They are denying us to enter here (mortuary) now. What mother can stay at home, after leaving the body here? They will also know, when it happens to them. The pain, a mother’s heart will bear,” she had said.

Mariyam emphasized that the family did not wish to submit any complaints to any authorities – adding their only plea is handover of her son’s body to the family, without further harm.

Abdulla’s younger sister, Mizada Mohamed told Sun the family does not wish to have an autopsy done. She said the family met with senior officials and pleaded them to have Abdulla’s body released so they can bury him.

She added that the family has lodged complaints with the Human Rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM) and other relevant authorities over the refusal to release the body.

Abdulla, who was involved in the sea cucumber business, had lived in Hoadedhdhoo alone. His wife and four children – three girls and one boy - reside in Male’ City.

Commenting on the allegations by the family, Police said that Abdulla’s death was being investigated by the National Integrity Commission (NIC), and only they would be able to comment regarding the issue.