Maldives Development Alliance (MDA)’s deputy leader Ahmed Amir has expressed displeasure at how the police acted in trying to detain him for an alleged violation of traffic rules.
A video has gone viral on social media, showing two police officers attempt to arrest Amir, who is driving a motorcycle, as he resists.
Amir, who serves as the parliamentary representative for the Kudahuvadhoo constituency, is heard telling police not to hurt him.
A police spokesperson said Amir had refused orders from traffic police to stop at a checkpoint, spoke foul language, and then proceeded to flee at a recklessly high speed.
According to the police, Amir had resisted when officers had chased after him and stopped him, and attempted to get his information.
The police said Amir was taken to the police station for disobeying police orders.
The case is under further investigation by the police.
Amir told Sun that the police stopped him at around 01:00 am on Tuesday, from Hulhumale’ Phase II.
MP Ahmed Amir is detained by traffic police on July 25, 2023. (Photo/Ahmed Amir)
He said the police detained him and confiscated his license and vehicle, before releasing him at around 02:30 am.
Amir denied claims he verbally abused the police, saying that he had been unaware the police asked him to stop at the checkpoint.
“I did not speak a word in foul or disrespectful language. I wasn’t alone. I was with a second person. He witnesses this,” he said.
He expressed displeasure at how he was treated by the police, and questioned how the law enforcement agency could be trusted to address major social issues if they are to act so “harsh”.
Amir also asked if the police were only in charge of enforcing traffic rules, and accused the police of failure in stopping the drug crisis and the sale of counterfeit US dollars.
“When I asked this, the two officers said it didn’t have anything to do with them. They said they were traffic police. No, this is not how it should be. This shows they wont hesitate to get extremely harsh in maintaining traffic, even as other major crimes increase,” he said.
