'Afrah died from treatment denied, IO said he was faking'

Ahmed Afrah, 48, who died in police custody two days after his arrest on drug charges, was denied medical treatment by authorities, his family alleged on Tuesday.

Afrah, detained in cell No. 7 of Atholhuvehi detention facility in Male' City, was discovered unresponsive at approximately 05:50 am, according to police statements. He was subsequently transported to IGMH, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival. Police have indicated that an autopsy will be conducted to ascertain the cause of death.

Family sources identified Afrah as originally from Hithahfinivaage/A.Dh. Maamigili, though registered at G. Zaamiya house in Male’. He was employed as a Chief Engineer with Villa company. Afrah, who had been married twice, had no children and primarily resided in Maamigili, visiting Male' approximately once a month to see his wife, who works in the city.

Mohamed Ibrahim, Afrah's younger brother, stated that Afrah had recently been staying in a rented room in Male’. Last Friday, Afrah reportedly met his wife and informed her of his severe illness. "It's difficult when people stop using drugs. My brother said he had stopped so he was struggling a lot that day," Mohamed remarked. He added that Afrah had a history of drug use, though his criminal record was limited to substance abuse, without any charges of theft often associated with addiction. Afrah had consistently worked in the engineering field.

Mohamed recounted that Afrah had recently traveled to Male' to meet his wife. When his wife was unable to reach him, she contacted the guesthouse, learning of his arrest. Afrah's wife then reportedly called the police station to inform them of his health issues and need for treatment.

"He asked for treatment, but no action was taken and he was kept in a group when he died," Mohamed asserted. "I am informed that when the police went to put someone else in the cell at 5:30 am that day, my brother was found dead in the cell. The policemen I met at IGMH told me that this was what had happened."

Mohamed also stated that Afrah's elderly parents and the entire family oppose a post-mortem or autopsy, expressing a desire for immediate burial. "This is for the police's own purpose. We will not benefit from it," he said, suggesting governmental influence. "They can do whatever they want to the autopsy report. I told them to release our body to us, that we will sign whatever document they wished for us to sign. They are trying to do this because there is police or governmental neglect and they want it hidden.”

During his visit to IGMH where Afrah's body was held, Mohamed questioned the Investigation Officer (IO) overseeing Afrah’s case about the denial of treatment despite his brother's requests. Mohamed quoted the IO as having smiled and said, "how would he know, people fake things a lot. Even if someone says they're sick, they can’t just believe like that."

Notably, the court order extending Afrah's remand also indicated that he required medical treatment.

Attempts by Sun to obtain a statement from the police regarding the family's allegations were unsuccessful.

This incident echoes a similar case on October 25, 2022, when Abdullah Rasheed died after being arrested on drug charges. Rasheed, who had complained of chest pain, died during transport between islands. His family also alleged that police denied him treatment, believing he was feigning illness. The National Integrity Commission (NIC), following an investigation into Rasheed's death, ruled that there was police negligence and called for the prosecution of the officers involved.

The frequency of deaths among prisoners in custody has reportedly increased, with cases of suicide, including those arrested for drug offenses, reported last year.

Drug addiction often necessitates consistent re-dosing to prevent severe withdrawal symptoms. Recovery from addiction requires treatment, even after a single re-dose. Concerns have been raised that the health conditions of individuals arrested for drug-related offenses in the Maldives are not adequately assessed, leading to their detention alongside other criminals, despite their specific health vulnerabilities.