Police officer charged with assaulting Hussain Solah acquitted

(16-11-2009)

The Police officer charged with assaulting Hussain Solah, whose dead body was later found floating in the harbor, has been acquitted of the charges by the Criminal Court on Sunday.

Corporal Ahmed Shah, of Primrose / Haa Dhaalu atoll Vaikaraidhoo, was charged with assaulting Solah while he was incarcerated at the Atholhuvehi Detention Centre on 12 April, 2007.

Judge Ali Rasheed said that two detainees in the Detention Centre had testified that they had seen Shah attack Solah but that the third witness had said that they had given the testimony because they had grievances against the Police.

“Since the three witnesses were detainees and because Ahmed Shah was the senior officer at the Centre at the time, it is possible that those in custody there would have some animosity towards the officer,” Judge Ali said.

The Judge ruled that since there was no other evidence, except the eyewitness accounts from the three detainees, the charges against Shah could not be proved beyond doubt.

The case against Shah had been filed by the Human Rights Commission, based on the testimonies of the three detainees.28-year-old Hussain Solah had been found dead in the Southwestern harbor of Malé not even 24 hours after he was released from Police custody. The report published by the Human Rights Commission on his death in 2007 stated that there was no evidence that Hussain Solah had been tortured and that it wasn’t confirmed whether he had been released from Police custody at the time that the Police had stated he had been released. The report further stated that although Police had denied any wrongdoing in the incident and issued a statement that Solah had died after being released from Police custody, there was no evidence to support the claim.

Solah Buried Dispite Family Opposition;

Male' - (Scene-37- 28 April) –Hussain Solah has been buried without the consent of his family. This morning in an unprecedented appearance the President of the Supreme Islamic Council of Maldives Sheykh Rasheed (Class Mate of President Gayyoom) issued a statement claiming that is the duty of the alive to bury the dead even with out the consent of the family, despite the numerous family requests to handover the body to family for burial in Sri Lanka.
Police prepared the burial after they cordoned the streets near cemetery. Public were banned from the burial therefore it is not sure of the accurate time of burial. Once the Police cordon was removed at around 15:45pm, crowds entered the cemetery to witness a rave marked as Hussain Solah.

Salah's body arrives back to Male’ in high security;

Male' - (Scene-36- 27 April) – Late Hussain Solah’s body withdrawn by from the Colombo mortuary without family consent, has arrived in Male’ under high Police security. People gathered near Police HQ in the hope to see the coffin being transferred to cemetery for burial. Due to the large crowd the dhoni carrying the body was diverted to South harbour where his body was initially found. Around 01:45 am the body was transferred to Galolhu Cemetery mortuary.

Twist in the Story Once again: Government of Maldives Decides not to hand over the body of Solah to his family in Sri Lanka;

Colombo - (Scene-35- 27 April) – Another unprecedented turn of events took place in the murder case of Hussain Solah this morning. When family of Solah visited to the mortuary where the body was resting to be handed over to family for burial, they came to know that the body had been transported to the Colombo Airport to be taken back to Maldives. Family reports that they as the legal entity entitle to authorize any such transfers had not been informed.
Speaking from Colombo, Solah’s brother reported that this kidnapping of Solah’s body by the Government of Maldives clearly proves that they have something to hide. He further said that its not yet 24 hours passed since the family friend and spokesmen Dr. Munawwar indicated that family wishes to sought a second medical opinion from Sri Lanka before the burial once the body is handed over to the family.
Family express their deep concern of the unlawful handling of the procedures by the Government of Maldives in this case. Hussain Solah was taken in to Police custody in Maldives on 9th of April 2007, and was found dead in Male south harbour on 15th April 2007. There is no evidence that Hussain Solah was released from Police custody. Police promised that they have the CCTV footages of Solah release, which up until today Police have failed to produce. There is evidence that Police failed to follow the procedures of identification of a dead body and hide evidence by washing the cloths of corpse using detergent.

Family Requesting for Release of Body to be buried in Sri Lanka:

Colombo - (Scene-34- 26 April) – Former Attorney General Dr. Munawwar, a close family friend and spokesmen for the late Hussain Solah’s family paid a visit to Maldivian High commission this morning. Dr. Munawwar conveyed the request by the family to let the family of late Solah, have his body to be buried in Sri Lanka. Family reports the Government of Maldives insisted that body could be released on the condition that it, be buried directly by the Government of Maldives in Sri Lanka. But the family wishes to have a second opinion to verify the conflicting medical opinions expressed, one that by IGM Hospital of Maldives and secondly that by JMO of Sri Lanka.Family express their deep concern of the unlawful handling of the procedures by the Government of Maldives in this case. Hussain Solah was taken in to Police custody in Maldives on 9th of April 2007, and was found dead in Male south harbour on 15th April 2007. There is no evidence that Hussain Solah was released from Police custody. Police promised that they have the CCTV footages of Solah release, which up until today Police have failed to produce. There is evidence that Police failed to follow the procedures of identification of a dead body and hide evidence by washing the cloths of corpse using detergent.

Solah’s burial in Sri Lanka:

Male’ - (Scene-33- 25 April) –After stressfully coping for 10 endless days with a murdered family member on hand, the family of Solah in a letter to Dr. Asim, Maldivian High commissioner in Sri Lanka , requested to let the family give Solah his last hourners.
http://www.dhivehi-observer.com/letters/salah_case/salah5.pdf

Gayyoom Arrives in Male’ After a long private visit to Singapore

Male’ - (Scene-32- 24 April) –Gayyoom Arrives in Male’ after departing on 14th April night. It is the same night on which it is believed that Hussain Solah was murdered brutally. He hasn’t made any public comments with regards to the murder of Hussain Solah.