Police believe bruises on Jameel to be signs of livor mortis, not torture

Based on preliminary investigative findings, the bruises found on the body of Mohamed Jameel, a suspect who died at the Maafushi Prison on Friday, are believed to be signs of livor mortis, and not that of torture, say the police.

Jameel, 45, was found dead in his jail cell on Friday morning. Photos taken of his body showed scars and bruises on his face, fueling allegations that he was tortured in prison.

In a joint press briefing by the police, Maldives Correctional Service and the Home Ministry on Saturday afternoon, Chief Inspector of Police Mohamed Samah said the photos were taken on Friday night, after Jameel’s body was taken to the cemetery.

He said that investigative findings suggest the bruises to be signs of livor mortis, and because Jameel’s body had been in the position of sujoodh for a long time, before it was discovered.

Samih said the police launched an investigation into the case as soon as his body was taken to the prison’s medical center, after he was found motionless in his cell.

According to Correctional Service, Jameel was found motionless at his jail cell on Friday morning.

He was taken to the prison’s medical center, and then to the Maafushi Health Center at 12:13 pm, where he was pronounced dead at 12:45 pm.

Home Minister Ali Ihusan previously said that the doctor determined the cause of death as cardiopulmonary arrest.

On Saturday, Samih said investigators visited both the prison’s medical center as well as Jameel’s jail cell. He said that investigators found what appeared to be foam or vomit from where Jameel’s body was found in the position of sujoodh, as well as in other areas of the cell.

The police showed CCTV footage of the cell, which showed Jameel in the position of sujoodh at dawn on Friday, apparently in prayer.

Samih said that analysis of the video footage showed Jameel had entered his cell at 09:30 pm on Thursday, after which no one else entered.

At 06:30 am Friday, prison guards on their routine patrol found Jameel in the position of sujoodh.

Samih said that they assumed he was praying, and did not enter the cell to investigate.

The guards intervened after he was found in the same position, four hours later.

He added that the police had a CT scan done on Jameel’s body in a hospital in Male’, but that the results were not out yet.

Samih said that the police had obtained updates from the hospital, and shared it with the Human Rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM) and the National Integrity Commission.

“The family was permitted to bury the body and it was released to the custody of the family at 06:10 pm on Friday, as none of these institutions found there to be a basis to further hold the body in custody, and because the police investigation did not find any such grounds either,” he said.

Samih said that while the police did not decide to perform an autopsy at the time, they decided a further investigation was warranted, after the photos emerged, sparking allegations of foul play.

He said that the police, as well as the home minister himself visited the cemetery and talked with the family, but they wanted to have Jameel’s body buried immediately.

He said that the police therefore allowed the family to bury Jameel’s body after Fajr prayer on Saturday, in accordance with their wishes.

Jameel had been jailed pending the outcome of his trial, in a case involving possession of a dangerous and sharp-edged weapon.

Earlier on Saturday, rights watchdog, the Maldives Human Rights and Detainee Watch condemned Jameel’s death.

It said that he had been denied medical care, despite being a known mental health patient.

The group added that the death underscores the urgent need for comprehensive reforms in the Maldives’ prison and mental health care systems.