#558 Abdul Wahid Easa
Date of Birth:
Profile:
Date of Arrest:
Status:
Allegations of maltreatment:
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5 December 2006
Detainee reported
the police arrested him on 04 November 2006 from a boat at sea whilst traveling
to Male' from Lhaviyani Atoll, Naifaru Island. Detainee reported the police
released him on 23 November 2006.
Detainee reported two police boats approached the vessel on which members of the
Naifaru Island community was traveling and ordered the vessel to stop because
the police wanted to get onboard and search the boat. Detainee reported he and
the other people on the boat refused to allow the police to get on to the boat
as there were women and children onboard. Detainee reported the police then
ordered the vessel to follow the police boats. Detainee reported the police
traveled to Dhoonidhoo Island Detention Center. Detainee reported the police
transferred all the women and children on a separate boat and then transported
them to Male'. Detainee reported the police verbally abused all the people on
the boat and accused the boat captain of navigating without a license. Detainee
reported the police confiscated his mobile phone and took him to a small
interrogation room and took photographs and fingerprints of him. Detainee
reported the police informed his reason of arrest as traveling to Male' to
participate in an unlawful gathering organised for 10 November 2006 by the
principal opposition MDP. Detainee reported he refused to sign the pre prepared
statement.
Detainee reported the police held him in an open area for a few hours and then
took him to a small cell at around 20:00 on the same day. Detainee reported the
cell lacked ventilation. Detainee reported the detaining authorities held him
with one another detainee. Detainee reported the detaining authorities provided
him with a mat and edible food. Detainee reported the toilet was in fetid
condition. Detainee reported the police provided him with limited fresh water.
Detainee reported the detaining authorities provided him with toiletries.
Detainee reported the interrogating authorities questioned him on 08 November
2006 as to why he traveled to Male'. Detainee reported he explained to the
interrogating authorities that he was a seaman and traveled to Male as to fly to
Sri Lanka to get his visa renewed. Detainee reported his lawyer accompanied him
during his interrogation and he signed a statement on the same day.
Detainee reported the police granted him access to his brother at Dhoonidhoo
Island Detention Center on 19 November 2006. Detainee reported the police
allowed him to telephone his brother for approximately three minutes on 20
November 2006.
Detainee reported the police handcuffed him and transported him to Atholhuvehi
on 23 November 2006. Detainee reported the police transported him again to
Criminal Court on the same day. Detainee reported a judge at the court informed
him that he was released due to insufficient evidence against him.
Detainee reported the police transported him to Atholhuvehi and held him in a
large cell with thirty nine other detainees. Detainee reported the police
transported him to Dhoonidhoo Island Detention Center as to collect his personal
items on the same day. Detainee reported the police informed him that his case
was sent to Attorney General and he might be summoned to court even after the
judge at the Criminal Court informed him of insufficient evidence. Detainee
reported the police released him at around 18:00 on 23 November 2006.
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7 November 2006
Acquaintance of detainee reported the police arrested the detainee on 4 November
2006 from a boat on his way to Male' from Lhaviyani Atoll, Naifaru Island.
Acquaintance of detainee reported two police vessels followed the boat at sea at
around 04:00 on 4 November 2006. Acquaintance of detainee reported the police
approached the boat and stopped the boat claiming that they needed to check its
security measures.
Acquaintance of detainee reported the police followed the boat and continued to
drive the vessels close to the boat despite the boat following police orders.
Acquaintance of detainee reported the boat nearly capsized due to the huge waves
that the police vessel created and as a result women and children on the boat
suffered sea sickness. Acquaintance of detainee reported the police threatened
and verbally abused the people on board and ordered to move the boat towards
Dhoonidhoo Island Detention Center.
Acquaintance of detainee reported the police arrested the detainee at Dhoonidhoo
Island Detention Center. Acquaintance of detainee reported the police arrested
ten activists of the principal opposition party and released the rest of the
people on the boat on the same day.
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