Ibthihaal

Afiya Mohamed, mother of Mohamed Ibthihaal, 3, who died due to suspected abuse on 28 January 2015, has told investigators of Human Rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM) that she did physically abuse her son, but did not mean to kill him.

Afiya, who is presently in police custody, provided her statement to HRCM officials yesterday. She confessed to physically abusing Ibthihaal, but details of her statement to HRCM have not been disclosed.

HRCM Information Officer Hawwa Wajdha Gasim told Sun Online that the investigation was ongoing, and information would be provided to media once the investigation was completed.

HRCM has been notified by the Prosecutor General’s (PG) Office to investigate Ibthihaal’s death.

Wajdha said that the commission had initiated an investigation even before being notified by the PG Office.

The Council of Vaavu Rakeedhoo had alerted Ministry of Law and Gender regarding Afiya’s abuse against Ibthihaal months before his death. Ibthihaal was found dead in his home in Rakeedhoo.

The ministry said after his death that they conducted an investigation when the issue was reported, and ministry officials confirmed that Ibthihaal was in a safe environment.

The court has allowed a remand period of 15 days for Afiya for the investigation. She will be taken to court again on 15 February for a decision on the remand period.