Police conclude domestic violence investigation into MP Easa, charges forwarded to PGO

The Maldives Police Service (MPS) have concluded investigations into alleged domestic violence on behalf of MP for Kendhikulhudhoo constituency Ahmed Easa against his former spouse Asra Naseem and their one-year-old son, with charges now forwarded to the Prosecutor General's Office.

MP for Kendhikulhudhoo constituency Ahmed Eesa was among four MPs from main-ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) named in Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) corruption suspects list, and has since resigned from his position as Chairperson of the Parliament Committee on Social Affairs after police received reports of MP Eesa having attacking his former spouse Asra Naseem and their son on 18 May.

Police investigated allegations of domestic violence detailing that MP Easa had become violent and beaten Asra Naseem, younger sister of Vice-President Faisal Naseem, and threatening to throw their one-year-old son out of the balcony of their home. Asra Naseem had been treated for injuries sustained in the attack at Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH).

Asra had gone on to drop charges against MP Ahmed Easa, stating that she had made the decision for the sake of her son. However, the Maldives Police Service asserted that they could not halt a criminal investigation at the request of an individual.

Police have confirmed through official channels that charges have now been forwarded to the Prosecutor General's Office, following conclusion on investigations into the violence perpetrated by MP Ahmed Easa against Asra Naseem and their son.

MPS had previously sought a warrant to detain MP Ahmed Easa through the PGO, but the request had been declined by the Criminal Court. The court had added that the PGO had been unlawful to seek an order of detention against MP Ahmed Easa, as such orders were not issued even for instances of domestic or psychological abuse against children living as wards of the state.

The Criminal Court went on to state that they could not issue an order of detention against MP Easa as there was no legal precedent to do so, and asserted that he was unlikely to exert influence over investigations into this case despite being a sitting member of the 19th People's Majlis.

MP Easa maintains that he has not acted outside of the law, and that he had resigned from the Parliament Committee on Social Affairs ahead of a vote to have him removed as he wished to support investigations into the domestic violence case lodged against him.