#227. Abdul Sattar Ali
Date of Birth:
Profile:
Status:
Allegations of maltreatment:
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19 October 2005
Detainee reported he was arrested at approximately 06:40 on 17 August 2005 from
his home in Hithadoo island, Addu Atoll, and released on 16 October 2005.
Detainee reported four armed policemen forcefully entered his house and ordered
him to accompany them to the police headquarters. Detainee reported the police
allowed him to use the toilet for a few minutes but did not allow him to close
the toilet door. Detainee reported the police handcuffed him and dragged him to
a waiting police vehicle. Detainee reported that eight policemen guarded him in
the vehicle during the journey to the police base in Gan Island.
Detainee reported the detaining authorities later transferred him to Kaadedhdhoo
Island by speedboat and then to Male’ International Airport by plane. Detainee
reported he was handcuffed throughout the journey. Detainee reported the
detaining authorities transported him by boat from Male’ International Airport
to Dhoonidhoo Island Detention Center with nineteen other detainees. Detainee
reported that his handcuffs were loosened at the airport. Detainee reported the
detaining authorities held him in an open area in until 00:30 and then
transported him to Feydhoo Finolhu island detention facility. Detainee reported
the detaining authorities held him in a small cell and provided him with a mat.
Detainee reported the police interrogators questioned him as to his location and
activities on12 August 2005. Detainee reported he told his interrogators he had
heard about a gathering in front of Addu Atoll Office and visited the area after
work to find out what was happening. Detainee reported that he informed the
interrogators he heard the crowd calling for president’s resignation and to
release the MDP Chairperson, Mr Mohamed Nasheed.
Detainee reported he signed a statement pre-prepared by the police and the
detaining authorities transferred him to Dhoonidhoo Island Detention Center a
few hours later. Detainee reported that he was held in a solitary confinement
cell that lacked ventilation. Detainee reported the toilet was in poor condition
and mosquitoes and insect swarms caused him considerable discomfort. Detainee
reported the detaining authorities provided him with a mat and pillows as
bedding.
Detainee reported he asked the detaining authorities to transfer him to a
different cell, and that the detaining authorities transferred after a week.
Detainee reported the detaining authorities provided him with a choice of food
but that the quality of the food was very poor.
Detainee reported he had retained a lawyer to represent him but that the
detaining authorities had refused to allow his lawyer to meet him despite
repeated requests. Detainee reported a judge increased his period of detention
on 2 October 2005 for a further ten days and then on 12 October 2005 for another
thirty days. Detainee reported the judge pronounced his extensions from the
interrogation room in Dhoonidhoo Island Detention Center.
Detainee reported he did not believe this so-called judge was actually a judge
because there was no basis on which his extension could have been extended other
than police incompetence. Detainee reported the detaining authorities did not
interrogate him despite the fact he had been detained for two months. Detainee
reported that the authorities failed to inform his lawyer of any extensions or
the reasons for his continued detention.
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17 October 2005
Wife of detainee reported she wrote to the President requesting the detainee be
released. Wife of detainee reported that she wrote that the detainee's family
was facing extreme hardship as a result of the detainee being held in detention.
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11 October 2005
Wife of detainee reported that detainee telephoned his family from Dhoonidhoo
Island Detention Center on 9 October 2005. Wife of detainee reported that the
detaining authorities only allowed the detainee to talk for five minutes. Wife
of detainee reported that detainee discussed family matters and detainee sounded
well.
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3 October 2005
Wife of detainee reported that detainee was taken from Dhoonidhoo Island
Detention Center to IGMH hospital in Male’ on 29 August 2005 because of severe
stomach pains. Wife of detainee reported that the detaining authorities allowed
the detainee to meet his children while he was at the hospital. Wife of detainee
reported the detainee informed his children that he was refused permission to
telephone his family.
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13 September 2005
Sister in law of Mr Ali reported Mr Ali was arrested on 17 August 2005 at
approximately 05:30 from his home in Addu Atoll. Sister in law of Mr Ali
reported about twenty armed military officers in balaclavas surrounded the
neighborhood while Mr Ali was sleeping. Sister in law of Mr Ali reported that Mr
Ali was handcuffed and escorted to a waiting military vehicle.
Sister in law of Mr Ali reported that son of Mr Ali received a phone call from
Mr Ali from his place of detention and was later granted access to Mr Ali in
Dhoonidhoo Island Detention Centre.
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17 August 2005
Acquaintance of Mr. Ali reported the police apprehended Mr. Ali at approximately
05:00 on 17 August 2005. Acquaintance of Mr. Ali reported that the police
manhandled Mr. Ali at the time of the arrest. Acquaintance of Mr. Ali reported
he received news that Mr. Ali was handcuffed and hung from railings on a Coast
Guard launch in order to humiliate Mr Ali in public. Acquaintance of Mr. Ali
reported that the launch departed the island at approximately 09:00.
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