President 'closely monitoring' Abdulla's death probe

The President’s Office said on Friday that President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih is closely monitoring the progress of the investigation into the death of a man while he was under police custody, arrested in a police operation at G.Dh. Hoadedhoo.

The Drug Enforcement Department (DED) of police arrested Abdulla Rasheed, 43, along with two other men in a major drug operation conducted in Hoadedhoo around 3pm on Tuesday. The police were trying to take them away when Abdullah died on the speedboat.

The President's Office said president Solih had met with home minister Imran Abdulla for talks regarding the case.

"The president had met with the Minister of Home Affairs Imran Abdulla, and spoken on the issue of the death of Abdulla Rasheed, imploring that the investigation into the death under custody be conducted in a fair and thorough manner," read a message from the President's Office.

"The president is closely monitoring what is going on in this case".

According to the doctor's report, Abdulla had died of a heart attack while in police custody. The family, however, alleged that the police had refused to give him treatment even when he pleaded with the police, alleging that he died due to police negligence. The family has also been opposing Abdullah's post-mortem examination.

However, the National Integrity Commission (NIC) said last night that a post-mortem will be conducted on him.

Abdulla's body is being kept at Galolhu mortuary, Male, in police custody. The police is not allowing his family members to enter the premises.