Police probe public shaming of robbery suspect

Authorities have launched an investigation after a man accused of robbing a shop in K. Maafushi was publicly humiliated by having paint poured over his body and being paraded with a sign labelling him a thief.

According to Maldives Police Service, the incident occurred on Tuesday and has since drawn widespread attention after videos of the act circulated on social media.

In the footage, individuals are seen pouring paint on the man’s head and covering his entire body while forcing him to hold a sign that read, “I am a thief.” The man was later found sitting on the street before being removed from the scene by police officers.

“No arrests have been made in relation to the painting incident,” a police spokesperson said, adding that while the man remains a suspect in the shop robbery, the manner in which he was treated is now also under investigation.

The Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) has condemned the act, calling it a degrading and inhumane treatment, regardless of the crime the individual is accused of. The commission also urged the public to refrain from sharing videos that show such acts, citing the need to protect human dignity and due process.

"This is not the way justice should be carried out," an HRCM statement stated. "Taking the law into your own hands undermines the legal system and violates fundamental human rights."