Police officer arrested for assault cites lack of sleep in court

The Police officer who was arrested for committing assault in a salon in Male' has claimed in court that he was 'not in his senses' at the time of the incident, citing severe sleep deprivation. 

Ali Manik, 43, was arrested last Friday and placed in remand in custody for five days. His remand order was issued while he had been in hospital after collapsing in the custody suite and being unresponsive. In the remand order, the Judge required that Ali Manik be presented at court within 24 hours of being discharged from hospital. 

Hence, Ali Manik was presented in court again yesterday. 

Ali Manik, who Police have suspended without pay, said in court that the salon where the incident occurred is a place that he has frequented previously as well. He stated that he hadn't slept for days before visiting the salon on the day of the incident, and that he had not been in his right mind. 

Ali Manik does not have a prior criminal record. He stated in court that he wished to have a lawyer appointed. Hence, the court gave him five days remand in custody. 

Police said in court that Ali Manik had created unrest in the salon, damaged property, and assaulted a Police officer who had tried to intervene. Police said that the responding officer was injured in the incident.