A case against seven officers of Maldives Police Service's Drug Enforcement Department (DED), over brutalising an expatriate suspect under their custody, was submitted to the Duty Prosecution on Sunday.
The measure is the first phase towards charging the officers with a criminal offence.
Seven officers were suspended in relation to brutalising a suspect arrested over illicit substances in the anti-drug operation launched last July.
According to Police, the officers were not brought back to line of duty despite them having completed their term of suspension.
A video circulated on social media depicting around seven DED officers physically assaulting an expatriate arrested during a raid on Ujaalage house, in Maafannu ward of capital Male' City.
However, it was revealed that there were nine officers in total during the sting.
Police raided the premises in relation to intelligence reports of the house being used as a drug hub to distribute illicit substances.
Police disclosed that a 36-year-old Bangladeshi expatriate was arrested from the residence over drug possession. A local man aged 28 was also apprehended on the road while attempting to flee the premises by jumping out of a window.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Abdulla Ahmed was summoned to the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights and Gender for an inquiry in relation to the incident.
According to the Assistant Commissioner, police brutality culture is somewhat prevalent within law enforcement authorities' conduct towards suspects in their custody.
Abdulla stated that efforts are underway internally to counteract police brutality.
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