National Integrity Commission (NIC) states that their investigation could not confirm that police officers assaulted RaajjeTV journalist Hussain Hassan after arresting him while covering an opposition protest during former President Abdulla Yameen’s administration.

RaajjeTV requested NIC to investigate the case in February 2018 and the commission had questioned Hussain and officers during their probe.

In a recent letter to RaajjeTV, NIC said that the only evidence that give support to the claim that officers assaulted Hussain after arresting him is Hussain’s own statement and a letter from RaajjeTV.

NIC stated that officers have denied seeing Hussain being assaulted and that the commission found no evidence to refute them. Therefore, NIC stated that they could not confirm that Hussain was assaulted at the police station.

Hussain was arrested while covering the joint opposition protest in Male’ on February 16, last year. He was taken to the Galolhu police station and then transfered to police headquarters, but due to the severity of his injuries, Hussain was immediately taken to ADK Hospital and was later transferred to Sri Lanka for further treatment.

Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) was unable to confirm which officer had assaulted Hussain and stated that the officers did not cause any intentional harm.