Two policewomen have testified in court against the deputy under secretary of the President’s Office, Aishath Eeman, after she was arrested on drugs related charge.
The police testified that Eeman refused to give them a urine sample when she was brought into the police station on suspected drug possession in December 2009.
Constable Mahdhoodhaa Saleem told the court that Eeman was requested to give a urine sample three different times, but she had refused.
Constable Thalia Ali also said she asked Eeman for a urine sample, and explained that the procedure was that the person would only give the sample if they wanted to.
When judge Abdulla Mohamed heard this, he said that giving the sample was a person’s own choice and that an accusation could’t be made just because someone refused to do something out of choice.
However the state prosecutor said that the judge had misunderstood, and that Constable Thaila had used the right of the police to request a urine sample.
Eeman’s defense team meanwhile said that Eeman could refuse giving a urine sample as part of her right to remain silent.
The policewomen’s testimony conflicted in the time Eeman was reportedly brought in. Constable Mahdhoodhaa said Eaman was brought to the station around 6:00pm in the evening, while Constable Thaila said Eeman was brought to the station between 9:00pm and 12:00pm.
Speaking on behalf of the president’s office, Press Secretary Mohamed Zuhair said Eeman was “technically on leave at the moment. We are providing legal assistance for her through the president’s office.”
Zuhair said the case was being conducted by the judicial system, “so even if the person is from the president’s office they must be investigated.”
The Deputy Prosecutor General Shameem said that despite the high profile of the defendant prosecutor general’s office was not giving the case any special attention and was treating it “like any other normal case.”
The trial is continuing.
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