#.507 Abdul Majeed Shameem (Alias: Majeed Sir)

 

Date of Birth:

 

Profile: Teacher owning one of the largest private tuition centres in Male'. An active member of MDP.

Status: Released

Allegations of maltreatment:

 

 

 

--- --- ---

 

20 February 2007

 

Abdul Majeed Shameem (Alias: Majeed Sir)
http://www.maldiviandetainees.net/individuals/507Abdul_Majeed_Shameem_MajeedSir.htm

Detainee reported he attended the Criminal Court on 5 February 2007 for his hearing on charges of participating in an unlawful assembly under the Article 46 and 48 of the penal code. (Please refer http://www.maldiviandetainees.net/RelevantLegalDocuments/MaldivesPenalCode.htm)

Detainee reported the State read out his charge as gathering people near IGM Hospital and encouraging public to create violence on 2 April 2006, after a man who sustained severe injuries in a fracas was hospitalized on the same day. Detainee reported the prosecution claimed he had accused the police of attacking the man, had called on the protestors to beat the police in return and not to leave the area, encouraging violence at the area. Detainee reported he denied all charges against him and informed the Judge that the charges were false.

Detainee reported the judge adjourned the court to a second hearing on 22 February 2007.

 

--- --- ---


21 November 2006

 

Detainee reported the police arrested him on 31 October 2006 from a local restaurant while he was having tea with friends. Detainee reported the police transferred him under house arrest at approximately 00:00 on 19 November 2006.

Detainee reported a policeman in "star force" uniform approached him at the restaurant and ordered him to accompany them for enquiries. Detainee reported the police took him to a police vehicle, transported him to Male' police headquarters and held him in an open area for a few minutes. Detainee reported the police transported him to Dhoonidhoo Island Detention Center by speedboat.

Detainee reported the police held him in an open area for a few minutes and then took him to an interrogating room. Detainee reported the police informed his reason of arrest as calling to people and encouraging them to participate in an unlawful assembly organized by the principal opposition MDP ,scheduled for 10 November 2006,. Detainee reported he refused to sign the pre-prepared statement the police ordered him to sign. Detainee reported the police allowed him to telephone his wife on the same day and he requested his wife to retain a lawyer to represent him.

Detainee reported the police took him to a small solitary confinement cell on 1 November 2006 which lacked ventilation. Detainee reported the police provided him with a bed. Detainee reported the police provided him with edible food after a doctor at Dhoonidhoo Island Detention Center prescribed him on certain foods on 3 November 2006 as he suffers from diabetes. Detainee reported he received toiletries and personal items from his family on 4 November 2006.

Detainee reported the police granted him access to his lawyer on 13 November 2006 and the interrogating authorities questioned him as to whether he encouraged and called people to travel Male' to participate in an unlawful assembly to be held on 10 November 2006 by the opposition party. Detainee reported he explained to the interrogating officer that he had not call people to participate in any gatherings but that he traveled to islands with the Chairperson of MDP. Detainee reported his lawyer accompanied him and that he signed a statement on the same day.

Detainee reported the police granted him access to his wife at Dhoonidhoo Island Detention Center on 16 November 2006.

Detainee reported a policeman approached him in his cell and asked him to get ready to go back to Male' with his belongings at around 23:30 on 18 November 2006. Detainee reported the police transported him back to Male' police headquarters and then transferred him under house arrest.

 

--- --- ---

 

20 November 2006

 

Wife of detainee reported the police arrested the detainee on 31 October 2006.

Wife of detainee reported she wrote a letter to the police on 4 November 2006 requesting for family access to the detainee. Wife of detainee reported she refused to meet with the detainee without his family, and requested to grant access to the family members when the police telephoned her on the first week of November 2006.

Wife of detainee reported she wrote a letter to the police on the first week of November 2006 requesting for family access to detainee for the second time. Wife of detainee reported she visited the police headquarters on 14 November 2006 as to obtain the reply to her letter. Wife of detainee reported the police informed her to visit the police headquarters the following day as reply to her letter was not ready.

--- --- ---


31 October 2006


Acquaintance of detainee reported the police arrested the detainee from Galanga, a local restaurant, on 31 October 2006. Acquaintance of detainee reported the police transported the detainee to Dhoonidhoo Island Detention Center on the same day.

Acquaintance of detainee reported the police previously arrested the detainee on 4 April 2006 from his home and released him without charge on 5 June 2006.

--- --- --

 

 2 July 2006

 

Detainee reported the police arrested him on 4 April 2006 from his home and released him without charge on 5 June 2006.

Detainee reported four policemen in "star force" uniform visited his home at around 03:00 while he was sleeping and ordered him to accompany them for enquiries. Detainee reported the police handcuffed him tightly behind his back and dragged him by the neck to a police vehicle. Detainee reported the police transported him to Male' police headquarters and held him in an open area for a few minutes. Detainee reported the police then transported him to Dhoonidhoo Island Detention Center by speedboat. Detainee reported the police held him in handcuffs during the journey.

Detainee reported the police removed his handcuffs and held him in an open area. Detainee reported the detaining authorities provided him with a make-shift bed. Detainee reported the police informed his reason of arrest as creating unrest on the streets and throwing stones at the Maafannu ward police station in Male’. Detainee reported he refused to sign the pre-prepared statement the police asked him to sign. Detainee reported the police took him to a small solitary confinement cell which lacked ventilation at around 20:30 on 5 April 2006. Detainee reported the detaining authorities provided him with a bed. Detainee reported the detaining authorities did not provide him with proper food despite his requests as he suffers from diabetes. Detainee reported he retained a lawyer on 6 April 2006.

Detainee reported the interrogating authorities questioned him on 10 April 2006 as to whether he participated in the unrest near Maafannu ward police station in Male’. Detainee reported he explained to the officer that he had not participated in any unrest. Detainee reported his lawyer accompanied him, and that he signed a statement on the same day.

Detainee reported he requested to meet the officer-in-charge of Dhoonidhoo Island Detention Center on 21 April 2006. Detainee reported a policeman approached him in his cell and asked him to get ready to go back to Male' with his belongings on 22 April 2006. Detainee reported the police handcuffed him behind his back and then transported him back to Male' police headquarters and again to Atholhuvehi, a new police base in Male’. Detainee reported the police removed his handcuffs and held him in an open area for a few minutes.

Detainee reported the police took him to the Criminal Court at around 01:00 on the same day. Detainee reported a judge at the court informed him that he could not be released on bail and transferred him under house. Detainee reported the police transported him to court again on 22 May 2006. Detainee reported the same judge extended his period of house arrest by a further fifteen days.

Detainee reported a judge at the court released him without charge on 6 June 2006 when the police took him to court for the third time. Detainee reported the police transported him back to Male' police headquarters and informed him to obtain permission from the police before traveling out of Male'. Detainee reported he signed a statement to that effect.

Detainee reported he had access to his family at Dhoonidhoo Island detention Center on three separate times. Detainee reported he received toiletries and personal items from his family.

--- --- ---
 

11 June 2006

 

Acquaintance of detainee reported the police arrested the detainee on 3 April 2006 and transported the detainee to Dhoonidhoo Island Detention Center on the same day. Acquaintance of detainee reported the police transferred the detainee to house arrest during the second week of May 2006.

Acquaintance of detainee reported the police transported the detainee to Court at around 18:00 on 7 June 2006 and that a judge at the court ordered the release of the detainee without charge. Acquaintance of detainee reported the police transported the detainee to Male' police headquarters and informed him to obtain permission from the detaining authorities before traveling out of Male'. Detainee reported that he signed a statement to the effect and was released at around 20:30.

--- --- ---