The Attorney General & Foreign Minister has no role in the Hussein Salah Case

The Attorney General and the Minister of Foreign Affairs has no role in the death and investigation of Hussein Salah, said Dr. Ahmed Shaheed, Vice Presidential Candidate of Dr. Hassan Saeed.

Speaking at a press conference at the Campaign Office, Dr. Shaheed outlined the events following the discovery of Hussein Salah's body.

"I think there is some confusion as to the role of the Attorney General and the Foreign Ministry here. The Attorney General and the Minister of Foreign Affairs were not involved in the investigation of Hussein Salah's body. That responsibility lies in the hands of the Ministry of Home Affairs and consequently at the Commissioner of Police."

He read out portions from official letters sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by the Ministry of Home Affairs and signed by the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Uz. Aishath Azima Shakoor, requesting the arrangement of an autopsy abroad. According to Dr. Shaheed the letter says that following discussions with the deceased's family, they had requested that instead of having the autopsy in the country, it would be better to conduct it abroad.

Following this instruction, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had spoken with the High Commissions in India and Sri Lanka regarding this, and the arrangement was made to have the autopsy in Colombo. He referred to comments made by the Government of Maldives Ambassador Abdul Azeez Yoosuf in the People's Majlis regarding the role of the Foreign Ministry

Answering a question from the media regarding Dr. Shaheed's role in this case, Dr. Shaheed clarified that he acted as a source of information for the local and international media, in his capacity as the Supervisor for the Chief Government Spokesman. He also said that he released the findings of the autopsy to the media after the Home Minister had received the report, and he had released it following instructions from the President and the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Mr. Mohamed Hussain.

Dr. Shaheed also highlighted that, to date, neither Home Ministry nor the Police had brought forward evidence of Hussein Salah's movement between the time of his release from police custody and the time of his death.