Most data lost from system was restored: Police

Police Spokesperson Ahmed Shifan has said that some technical issues arose in 2017, resulting in loss of data from the Police system, adding that most of this data was since restored.

Shifan made this statement after all accused in an attack with an axe on an individual in a cafe' in Male' were acquitted yesterday after Police lost some crucial evidence in the form of video footage.

Shifan posted on X stating that in 2017, Police Storage System had some technical errors, resulting in the loss of some data. He said that much of the critical data from amongst this had since been restored.

"In relation to this incident, we are checking if it is connected to this footage," Shifan said.

In September 2017, a group of assailants attacked an individual in a cafe' located near the People's Majlis with an axe and other sharp objects, stabbing him in the head and back.

The State pressed charges against four individuals in relation to this attack.

Last Thursday, the Criminal Court ruled that the most vital evidence in the case is video footage from police cameras in the area. They said that while this footage shows the assailants entering the cafe', as well as leaving with the weapons used, the police investigation report said that this footage had been lost due to an issue in the Police server.

As per the ruling, Police had not done a video comparison of the accused citing high expenses in taking back up of the footage.

Additionally, the ruling said that despite having been provided several opportunities, the State had been unable to present the secret witnesses that they had proposed. As a result, the court acquitted all four persons accused in the attack.

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