#307. Abbas Adil Riza

Date of Birth:

Profile:

Status:

Allegations of maltreatment:

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15 May 2007

Acquaintance of detainee reported the police arrested the detainee on 8 November 2006 from a boat at sea whilst traveling from Addu Atoll to Male' and released him on 12 December 2006.

Acquaintance of detainee reported the Criminal Court summoned him to attend the first hearing on 16 May 2007 to the charge of Disobedience to Order.

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7 January 2007

Detainee reported the police arrested him on 8 November 2006 from a boat at sea whilst traveling from Addu Atoll to Male'. Detainee reported the police released him on 12 December 2006.

Detainee reported the police approached him on the boat, handcuffed him and then transferred him to a police boat. Detainee reported the police verbally abused him connecting him to MDP, the principal opposition party, on the boat and transported him to Dhoonidhoo Island Detention Center with 44 other detainees. Detainee reported the police held him in an open area. Detainee reported policemen in "star force" uniform approached him and verbally abused and intimidated him in Dhoonidhoo Island Detention Centre.

Detainee reported the police took him to an interrogating room and informed his reason of arrest as traveling to Male from Addu Atoll as to participate in unlawful assembly and trying to overthrow the government. Detainee reported the police informed him that he would not be released on bail.

Detainee reported the police took him to a large cell at around 01:00 on 09 November 2006 and held him with forty four detainees. Detainee reported the police provided him with a bed and edible food. Detainee reported he faced difficulty sleeping because of the radio played at the cell area. Detainee reported the police refused to turn off the radio when he requested. Detainee reported the cell was in poor condition and flooded because of the rain coming into the cell. Detainee reported he had to shout and bang on the cell doors to call for a duty officer but the duty officers refused to walk near the cell. Detainee expressed his view that the duty officers may have refused to come so as to mentally torture the detainees by infuriating them. Detainee reported he had to continuously request the police as to obtain toiletries and sheets from the police. Detainee reported he went on hunger strike on 8 November 2006 when the police refused to provide him with toiletries and edible food. Detainee reported he remained on hunger strike for two days.

Detainee reported the interrogating authorities questioned him on 16 November 2006 as to why he traveled from Addu Atoll. Detainee reported he explained to the interrogating authorities that he traveled to Male’ in order to participate in a peaceful gathering by the opposition MDP. Detainee reported his lawyer accompanied him throughout his interrogation. Detainee reported the police took him to the interrogating room at Dhoonidhoo Island Detention Center on 21 November 2006 and he signed his statements.

Detainee reported he heard the radio announcement on 21 November 2006 that his case was sent to the Attorney General's Office. Detainee reported the police came to his cell on 22 November 2006 and informed him that his case was sent to the Attorney General's Office.

Detainee reported a judge at Dhoonidhoo Island Detention Center extended his detention period by a further fifteen days on 28 November 2006. Detainee reported he requested the judge to release him on bail, but the judge refused him.

Detainee reported he went on hunger strike for the second time at around 19:00 on 9 December 2006 and continued his hunger strike for fifty eight hours.
Detainee reported the police granted him access to his family on three separate times at Dhoonidhoo Island Detention Center. Detainee reported the police took him to a doctor at Dhoonidhoo Island Detention Center once in every week and checked his blood pressure.

Detainee reported the police took him to the interrogating room at Dhoonidhoo Island Detention Center at around 18:00 on 12 December 2006 and a judge informed him that he was released. Detainee reported the police transported him to Male' police headquarters and then released him shortly after he signed a statement.

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17 December 2006

Wife of detainee reported the police arrested the detainee on 8 November 2006 from a boat at sea whilst traveling to Male' from Addu Atoll. Wife of detainee reported the police held the detainee at Dhoonidhoo Island Detention Center.

Wife of detainee reported third parties informed her that the detainee's detention period had been extended by a further fifteen days on the last week of November 2006. Wife of detainee reported the brother of detainee wrote a letter to the police on the last week of November 2006 requesting access to the detainee. Wife of detainee reported the police informed the brother of detainee that access to the detainee would be granted to him on 1 December 2006.

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13 December 2006

Acquaintance of detainee reported the police arrested the detainee on 8 November 2006 from a boat at sea whilst traveling to Male' from Addu Atoll. Acquaintance of detainee reported the police held the detainee at Dhoonidhoo Island Detention Center.

Acquaintance of detainee reported the police released the detainee without charge on 12 December 2006.

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21 November 2006

Father of detainee reported the police arrested the detainee from a boat at sea, while he was traveling to Male' from Addu Atoll. Father of detainee reported the police hold the detainee at Dhoonidhoo Island Detention Center.

Father of detainee reported the police granted wife of detainee access to the detainee at Dhoonidhoo Island Detention Center on 17 November 2006.

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12 November 2006

Acquaintance of detainee reported the police arrested the detainee at around 19:30 on 08 November 2006 from a boat at sea whilst traveling to Male' from Addu Atoll.

Acquaintance of detainee reported the police handcuffed the detainee and then transported the detainee to Dhoonidhoo Island Detention Center. Acquaintance of detainee reported the police hold the detainee handcuffed in solitary confinement.

Acquaintance of detainee reported the detainee retained a lawyer on 09 November 2006.

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1 February 2006

Mr Riza reported that Haveeru Daily Newspaper had published an article saying the Attorney General had filed charges against him at the Criminal Court for participating in the demonstration organized by the principal opposition party on 24 January 2006.

Mr Riza reported that the newspaper article did not indicate under what article of the Penal Code the Attorney General were charging him. Mr Riza reported that neither the Criminal Court nor any other government agency has contacted him to inform him that he has been charged for participating in the demonstration.
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