The Maldives Police Service issued a statement on Thursday, in which it expressed concern over the decision to charge 13 police officers with abusing juveniles from a children’s shelter in Vilimale who attended a camp at Thulusdhoo, Kaafu Atoll, in 2017.

Following an investigation by the Human Rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM), the policemen were prosecuted under the Anti-Torture Act with cruel, humiliating, or inhumane treatment for handcuffing a group of youngsters on a boat to Thulusdhoo and subjecting them to verbal and physical abuse.

The HRCM had also sought charges against then-Gender Minister Aminath Zenisha and then-Head of the Family and Child Protection Unit, Chief Superintendent Mohamed Basheer, as well as three other police officials. The Prosecutor General’s Office, however, opted not to press charges against them, alleging a lack of adequate evidence.

According to a statement issued by the Maldives Police on Thursday, the HRCM supplied information on the case on October 5, and the Prosecutor General’s Office informed the police on November 10 of the decision to charge 13 policemen engaged in the incident.

Police have also asked that the commission share its inquiry findings with the institution, claiming that no state entity had previously informed them of any occurrence involving a violation of the rights and dignity of the children who attended the Thulusdhoo camp.

It went on to voice its displeasure with the decision to charge the police officers under the Anti-Torture Act.

The policemen charged are: