Male, February 15 (newsin.asia): Refuting media and social media reports that former Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed, and Justice Ali Hameed are being treated badly in prison, the Minister of Housing, Dr.Mohamed Muizzu, said that he had visited them and were told by them that they are being treated well by the prison authorities.
Dr.Muizzu ,who visited them as a representative of President Abdulla Yameen said that the detainees are “in good health.”
“And none of their rights and liberties, as detainees under criminal investigation, are being infringed,” he added.
A government press release said that former President Gayoom spoke with Dr Muizzu and acknowledged that he was in good health and that he currently has access to better facilities; having been moved from Dhoonidhoo Detention Centre to Maafushi Prison.
“The Former President has access to doctors and medicine as well as to his lawyers,” the government release said quoting Dr. Muizzu.
“The two Justices in detention also confirmed to Dr Muizzu that they have access to medicine, doctors and lawyers without added restrictions and that they were being treated well with no additional infringement of their rights.”
“They confirmed that prison authorities, as well as the police, were treating them well, within the letter and spirit of the law.”
Dr Muizzu further said that the authorities have even met the detainees’ “individual’s dietary needs”.
He refuted allegations of mistreatment in the face of widespread reports in the media, and social media, to the contrary.
“Such accusations are baseless. They are being treated humanely and with every courtesy the authorities and the state can afford,” Dr. Muizzu said.
(The featured picture at the top shows detainees Justice Ali Hameed ,Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed, former President Gayoom and the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Dr.Mohamed Muizzu who visited them)