Athuhar’s death: Charges sought against two police officers

Charges have been sought against two police officers in connection to the death of Adam Athuhar, a suspect who died by hanging while in police custody in last year’s August.

Athuhar, 32, was arrested from Male’ City on the night of August 29 after he held a woman hostage at knifepoint and attempted to evade arrest. The police hit him in the back of the head with a baton to immobilize him and rescue the woman. He was treated at two different hospitals in Male’ before he was taken to the Dhoonidhoo Custodial Jail.

He was rushed to the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) in Male’ on September 1 after he was found hanging in his jail cell in an apparent suicide attempt. He was treated on a ventilator at the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit and was pronounced dead.

The Police faced heavy criticism following his death.

Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM)’s Spokesperson told Sun on Monday that the Commission has filed a request with the Prosecutor General’s Office (PG Office) seeking charges against two officers implicated in the case.

The Spokesperson did not elaborate further.

An autopsy conducted confirmed Athuhar died by hanging.

The police conducted an autopsy to determine the cause of death despite resistance from his family, who claim foul play.

According to information previously shared by the Police, it took 30 minutes before officers viewing security cameras found Athuhar hanging in his jail cell and another 23 minutes to transport him to IGMH.