Abdulla’s body being flown back to Maldives; funeral today

The body of the GDh. Hoadedhoo man who died in police custody in late October is being flown back home after an autopsy in India.

Abdulla Rasheed, 43, was arrested in a counter-drug operation from a café near the harbor of GDh. Hoadedhdhoo at approximately 02:15 pm on October 25. 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.

His body was transported to India for an autopsy to determine the cause of death on October 31, despite protests from his family, who wished to have him buried as soon as possible. They made an unsuccessful attempt to halt the autopsy by filing a case with the Civil Court. The family was given a chance to view his body before it was flown out.

The plane carrying his body is scheduled to land in Maldives Saturday afternoon.

His funeral is scheduled to he held at the Aa Sahara Cemetery. The funeral prayer will be held after magrib.

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