Nearly two months after, NIC launches probe over assault on journalist during arrest
Hassan had sustained serious injuries during an arrest while covering an opposition rally on February 16
Journalist Hussain Hassan
National Integrity Commission (NIC) has checked the bruises on journalist Hussain Hassan’s body, nearly two months after being assaulted during an arrest.
Hassan, along with lawyer Mohamed Nishan Ibrahim, met with NIC officials at 11am on Monday, a day after his meeting with officials from the Human Rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM).
During Monday’s meeting, NIC officials took Hassan’s statement, as well as photos of the bruises on his body, a direct result of the violent arrest on February 16, and informed him that an investigation had been launched into the matter.
Hassan further told the officials that while he does not know the names of the officers that had assaulted him, that he could identify them if he sees them. Hence, NIC informed him that an additional session will be held soon, where they will show him photos of officers who had been dispatched to control the opposition rally on the night of the 16th of February.
RaajjeTV had filed assault cases at three different institutions- Maldives Police Service, National Integrity Commission and Human Rights Commission of Maldives- on February 18. However, HRCM launched an investigation on its own, and had visited the journalist while he was admitted at ADK Hospital.
HRCM, on Sunday, met with Hassan and told him that they are currently working to identify the officers involved in his arrest and assault. The Commission had taken Hassan’s statement while he was admitted to ADK Hospital, after going in to monitor his condition and take photos of his injuries.
Hassan was brutally arrested while covering an opposition rally on 16th February. Video footage shows him having difficulty breathing, as he was carried into a police vehicle from police headquarters that night. He was later taken to ADK Hospital, where he was admitted for over 24 hours, before being sent to Sri Lanka for further treatment.
While police have claimed that Hassan was never taken into custody, HRCM had said that it is investigating this claim as well. HRCM added it has obtained the details of all officers dispatched to control protests, for the investigation.
