Haveeru Daily News Article 14 April 2005
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Quick Translation

Member Tables to Set Up Majlis Committee to Investigate Treatment of Detainees in Jail

14 April 2005
Ahmed Zahir (Hiriga)

The motion submitted by Male' Member Ibrahim Ismail and seconded by Lhaviyani Atoll Member Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, to set up a People’s Majlis Committee to investigate how those detained for investigations and those detained to serve sentences are treated was unanimously passed by the Majlis and deliberations on the issue have started.

As soon as the committee stage of the motion was opened 20 members requested to deliberate on the issue. The Chair gave the first option to speak on the member who tabled the motion Male' Member Ibrahim Ismail.

The Member for Male' said he was compelled to table the motion because the treatment by the detaining authorities, of those accused of different crimes detained for investigations and those detained in jail to serve sentences passed on by the courts, was a matter of concern to the public. And also given that any failing on the accountability of those upholding the Nation’s and public security was a defect that may blemish the National Interest and that finding that strengthening such accountability was paramount to the National Interest he had tabled the issue he said.

According to Ibrahim Ismail complaints of physical and sexual abuse as well as psychological abuse inflicted on detainees have become public knowledge. He marked that following such complaints the Government had also taken measures. These acts were perpetuated by a few he said. However, due to these few those who undertake their duties properly were also blamed and as a result the fact that the public were losing trust on the Security Personnel was a matter to contemplate he said.

The Chair then gave the second option to speak on Cabinet Member Dr Hassan Seeed. He said that if it was proved that abuse had taken place during the investigation stage the Government does take measures against such a perpetrator. Accordingly on various occasions measures were taken against various parties he marked. According to Dr Hassan Saeed the problem was encountered because in most cases trials were conducted based on confessions and that the culture taken root in the Maldives was that of gaining confessions. However the Attorney General said that in order to avoid the habit of confessions the Government has now launched many programmes. In this regard he marked that if detainees wanted they could make use of lawyers during the investigations and that investigations carried out in jails were being audio and video recorded. And that in the Criminal Justice Action Plan now compiled the eradication of the confessional culture was markedly stressed.

Having looked into statistics between 2000 and 2003, he said that more than 90 percent of trials were ruled based on confessions. However among the 800 lawsuits ruled in 2004 the problem had been reduced to 60 percent he marked.

When the sitting's time ended a decision was not reached on the issue.

Ends