Seven officers under criminal investigation after beating civilian

Maldives Police Service (MPS) has launched a criminal investigation against the seven officers that manhandled a civilian during a raid.

The officers had, during a “drug operation” on July 5 manhandled the suspects, and a video of this was immediately uploaded on social media.

In a statement released on Monday, police noted that such acts are against its code of practice and code of ethics.

It emphasized that Commissioner Mohamed Hameed had ordered the police’s Professional Standards Command to investigate the case “the same night.”

Noting that seven officers have since been suspended, police said that a team has been formed to conduct a criminal investigation in the case.

While there are photos of officers being circulated online, alleging that they are the officers involved in the act, police denied this by saying that “the photos have no connection to this incident.”

Police's statement also revealed details in the case, including that a 36-year-old Bangladeshi expatriate was arrested in the raid, over drug possession, and that a local man, 28, had attempted to flee after jumping out through a window; he was arrested on the road.

Furthermore, the police said that it will “take all necessary measures” to ensure that its officers abide by the police’s codes, as well as the country’s laws and regulations.

Commissioner Hameed has also met with these officers, and provided their details to the Human Rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM) and National Integrity Commission (NIC).

Parliament's committee on human rights and gender is also investigating the case, and gave relevant institutions two days to provide details.