PGO declines charges against MDP member Hussain

The Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) has decided not to prosecute opposition MDP National Assembly Member and former journalist Hussain Hassan for taking a photograph of a police operation.

Hussain, who represents the Ga. Villingili constituency, was arrested on the night of 10 September for photographing an operation conducted by the Maldives Police Service. Following his arrest, he was allegedly subjected to torture while in police custody.

The case was forwarded to the PGO for prosecution. However, PGO spokesperson and lawyer Ahmed Shafeeu told Dhauru that the office decided not to proceed with charges against Hussain.

Relatives of Hussain said he was arrested after a police officer ordered him to delete the photograph. Witnesses claimed that he was taken into a van and tortured after his arrest. Hussain stated that he has not yet received official notice of the PGO’s decision.

Under Maldivian law, taking photographs and videos in public places is not prohibited, and the police do not have the authority to delete such material. Hussain was not at a scene where police had made an arrest for an alleged offence.