MP Ikram denies assaulting health worker taking nasal swab sample, police investigate

Dhiggaru MP Ikram Hassan has denied the allegation he assaulted a health worker who attempted to take a nasal swab sample from him at a COVID-19 testing center in Male’.

The incident, which took place at the COVID-19 testing center in Maafannu Madharusa on Friday night, has been reported to the police.

The police said on Sunday that the incident is under investigation, but has not release any further details.

Ikram wrote a statement on his Facebook account on early Saturday denying the allegation.

He said that he did not assault the health worker.

“When the person inserted the nasal swab and started rubbing it, I pushed away the person’s hand from in front of my face to take out the nasal swab because it was so painful,” said Ikram, a parliamentarian from the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

“And I very angrily said that people who take samples so sadistically should not be allowed to take samples.”

Ikram said he asked the health worker for a name, but the worker refused to answer.

“Nothing more than this took place. If there are cameras there, watch the camera recordings and check whether this did not happen as I said,” he said.

Maafannu madharaa kan higaa dhiya goii. pic.twitter.com/vPZbQJWhxF

— Ikram Hassan MP (@ikramhassan) October 9, 2020

Ikram said he had previously had a nasal swab sample taken at Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH), and that the worker there had been very gentle when taking the sample.

He added that he does not have a prior criminal record for assault.

“I have no prior police record for assault. I believe samples for PCR tests can be taken far more gently than that,” he said.

Ikram has been hit with criticism over social media sites over the incident.