Author: Ahmed Nazeer

Police fire head of Drug Enforcement Department

Former Head of the Police Drug Enforcement Department (DED), Mohamed Jinah, was relieved of police duty last Thursday January 10.

Speaking to Minivan News, Jinah said police had called him and informed him that he had been dismissed from police.

‘’They did not tell me why the decision was made, but they said they will send me documents containing information as to why I have been dismissed,’’ Jinah said. ‘’I don’t have much to say before I get the documents.’’

Jinah said he has not yet decided to file the matter in court.

‘’I will make a decision after I receive the documents clarifying why I was dismissed,’’ he added.

After the controversial transfer of power in February, Jinah was demoted to Chief Inspector of Police from his position as Police Chief Superintendent.

Jinah was the Head of the Drug Enforce Department (DED), but following February 7 was changed to the police planning department.

Jinah, former Chief Superintendent ‘MC’ Mohamed Hameed, former Superintendent Ibrahim Adnan Anees and Superintendent ‘Lady’ Ibrahim Manik were among a few senior officer who did not join a police revolt against the government on February 7, that led to the resignation of then President Mohamed Nasheed.

With the dismissal of Jinah, almost all senior police officers who did not take to the streets demanding Nasheed’s resignation on February 7 have now been dismissed.

On August 8 last year, the Police Disciplinary Board decided to relieve Chief Superintendent ‘MC’ Mohamed Hameed and Superintendent Ibrahim Adnan of duty.

Superintendent ‘Lady’ Ibrahim Manik was also demoted to Chief Inspector of Police, and the disciplinary badge on his uniform was removed.

Adhnan Anees, Ibrahim Manik and Mohamed Jinah were among senior officers allegedly assaulted by ordinary officers on February 7.

Video footage available on Youtube shows the former head of the Drug Enforcement Departmen being handcuffed and taken to the detention island Dhoonidhoo on the morning of February 7.

On June 14, police arrested Chief Superintendent Hameed following his contribution to the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s report into the controversial transfer of power on February 7.

According to the MDP’s report, the attacks were carried out by police officers outside police headquarters on the instructions of Police Superintendent Abdulla Nawaz and Sub-Inspector Azeem Waheed.

The report stated that Corporal Ahmed Vikram ‘Viki’ hit Superintendent Anees with a wooden chair in the back, and struck Anees in the genitals with his leg.

Anees was then taken upstairs to the third floor of police headquarters and locked inside the DED’s storage room, along with Deputy Commissioner Ismail Atheef and Superintendent Ibrahim Manik, the report claimed.

According to the report, mutinying police officers subsequently broke open the door of the storage room and again attacked the three senior officers, before taking them downstairs.

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Four allegedly arrested over sexual offences at mental health institution

Four men have allegedly been arrested in Kaafu Atoll over drug and sex offences related to their work at the Centre for People with Mental Disability on the island of Guraidhoo, sources with knowledge of the matter have claimed.

Speaking to Minivan News under condition of anonymity today, several sources from the island claimed the four suspects stood accused of giving hash oil cigarettes to women staying at the centre and then having sex with them.

One of the four suspects was said to have been charged with filming the alleged crimes, according to the sources. However the charges are not thought to relate to women suffering with mental health issues or physical disabilities.

Several sources on the island of Guraidhoo today claimed that the four men alleged to have been arrested as part of the case were all staff at the centre – one of whom was claimed to be an Imam.

The same sources confirmed to Minivan News that the alleged offences occurred last year.

The suspects are currently believed to still be detained while investigations into the matter continue.

”Their pretrial detention period was first extended to seven days, and when the seven days were over, the court extended the [suspect’s] detention to another 15 days three times,” a source on the island claimed today.

Minivan News understands that although the woman were staying at the Centre for People with Mental Disabilities, they were not thought at the time to suffer from any mental health issue or physical disorder.

“I have information that these girls were first kept at the orphanage in Villingili and when they were old enough to get out from the orphanage and had nowhere to go, the government sent them to the Centre,’’ a source claimed.

The women alleged to be involved with the case have also been summoned to court to testify in the hearing held to decide on the length of pretrial detention for the suspects, Minivan News was told.

According to the Act number 12/2009 relating to Special Measures Applicable to Perpetrators of Child Sexual Abuse, any persons suffering with a disability will be treated in the same manner as a minor in cases related to sexual abuse.

A senior staff member at the Guraidhoo Centre for People with Mental Disability confirmed to Minivan News today that an “issue” with certain members of staff had taken place at the centre and that police were informed at the time.

“There is an issue like this.  But I cannot give information because all the staff here have signed an agreement that we won’t give out information related to things that goes inside the centre,” the source said.

“The incident was reported to police when the girls one day got mad at the staff working here and told that they were in a relationship with some staffs and the things they have done to the girls. That’s how the centre came to know about this. But we have not heard of the drugging part,’’ the source added.

Minivan News was awaiting a response from the Maldives Police Service regarding the matter at time of press.

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Married couple arrested over possession of illegal narcotics worth MVR 615,600

Police have announced the arrest yesterday (January 8) of a married couple in connection to the discovery of 270 bullet-sized packets of illegal narcotics.

The drugs were said to have been discovered both at the couple’s home and at the workplace of the male suspect, according to local media.

The Maldives Police Service said that during raids on two separate properties as part of the case, MVR 72,025 (US$4670) and US$121 in cash were discovered. Two empty bottles of vodka were also said to have been found inside the couple’s home.

According to police, the female suspect was aged 22 and the man was aged 28.  Meanwhile, local newspapers have reported that the male suspect was employed at a State Trading Organization (STO) flour storehouse.  However, authorities have opted to withhold the names and other information of the suspects at time of press.

The male suspect was arrested at 2:30pm, while his wife was arrested at 5:30pm, according to police.

Commissioner of Police Abdulla Riyaz said via social media service Twitter that that the street value of the drugs seized yesterday was estimated at MVR 615,600 (US$39,922).

Minivan News understands that the couple were brought before judges to extend their pretrial detention period.

On November 28 last year, authorities uncovered more than MVR 1 million (US$ 64,808) in cash along with other foreign currencies during an operation to thwart a local drug network.

Deputy Police Commissioner Hussain Waheed tweeted at the time that the street value of the drugs discovered during the same operation would reach over MVR 10 million (US$648,000).

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Four arrested over Fares-Mathoda Health Centre theft

Police have confirmed the arrest of four people in connection to the theft on Sunday (January 6) of a safe from a health centre located on the island of Fares-Maathoda in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll.

Police Spokesperson Sub-Inspector Haneef confirmed the arrests today, while also disclosing that the safe taken during the raid had been uncovered.

According to Haneef, the safe, which had been used to keep wages and other payments to health centre staff, had been discovered in waters surrounding the island yesterday (January 7).

“The safe was severely damaged when it was found and there was no money in it,” he said.

Local media has reported that an estimated MVR 28,000 (US$ 1,830) had been kept in the safe at the time of the theft.

The Manager of Fares-Mathoda Health Centre Mohamed Waheed has told Minivan News that thieves had broken though the health centre’s windows to gain entry to the building before managing to remove the safe from the property.

‘’It is a huge loss for the health centre, the money they stole had been saved to pay the salary of a staff that was on leave,’’ Waheed said. “It is the money saved to pay some allowances to the expatriate staff working here as well.’’

Waheed claimed the Health Centre presently had no budget, and may require government assistance to cover its losses.

“We are hoping that the Health Ministry will provide assistance to the Health Centre,” he said. “I understand that the stolen safe was found but [was] empty. We are also not provided with details of the investigation until it is completed.’’

Fares-Mathoda’s Island Council has told the local media that there had been growing concern at a perceived increase in crimes occurring in the area of late.

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Man sentenced to 24 years imprisonment for molesting his daughters

A 50 year-old man man from Maalhendhoo in Noonu Atoll has been sentenced to 24 years in prison after being found guilty by Kendhikolhudhoo island court of molesting his two teenage daughters, police have said.

According to authorities, the two girls would have been aged 13 and 17 in August last year when complaints were first submitted to Manadhoo Police Station in Noonu Atoll over the abuse.

News of the sentencing comes as authorities this week announced two people had been arrested over separate cases of child abuse alleged have occurred since the beginning of the year.

As part of its investigations, the police said they had arrested a 49 year-old male on January 2 on suspicion of molesting a 6 year-old girl on the island of Nilandhoo in Faafu Atoll.

Officers on the island, also based in Faafu Atoll, were called to attend a scene where a man was allegedly molesting the minor. Police said that officers had arrived at the scene in time to catch the suspect committing the crime.

According to police, the 49 year-old suspect was now being held under pretrial detention. His detention has been extended by Nilandhoo Court for 15 days.

Police this week also arrested a 54 year-old man over allegations he had sexually molested a 10 year-old girl on the island of Gahdhoo in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll.

Police said the man was arrested yesterday [6 January 2013] at about 10:30pm.

Local newspapers have reported that the suspect was believed to be a relative of the victim.

December cases

Another three suspected cases of sexual abuse involving children or young women were reported to police last week.

On December 31, a 13 year-old living on Gahdhoo in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll was reported to have sexually assaulted in an abandoned home on the island after being drugged and abducted, police have said.  Three suspects were arrested in connection to the assault.

The same day, a suspect wanted for questioning in connection to the sexual abuse of a 13 year-old girl in Male’ on December 30 handed himself  into police after authorities publicised his picture in the media.

Police also said they had arrested a 33 year-old male in connection with the rape of a girl below 16 years of age in Vili-Male’ on December 29, 2012.

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Former President’s Office under-secretary placed under house arrest

Former President’s Office Under-Secretary Ibrahim Rasheed ‘Hoara’ Ibbe, who stands accused of sexual offences against a 17 year-old girl, has been placed under house arrest.

Rasheed, who served in the President’s Office under the previous government of Mohamed Nasheed, had been kept in pretrial detention until yesterday (January 5) over the allegations.  The Maldives Police Service today confirmed that his detention had been extended for an additional 15 days under house arrest.

Rasheed was arrested on December 6, 2012, after being discovered at a house in the Galolhu Ward  of Male’ with a seventeen year-old girl.

A Criminal Court Spokesperson had told local media that Rasheed was brought before a judge yesterday for a hearing on whether to extend the period of his detention. The presiding judge decided that the suspect was to be placed under house arrest for the next 15 days, according to reports.

Police Sub-Inspector Hassan Haneef today confirmed to Minivan News that Rasheed was now placed under house arrest, but could not give further details of the case as it was related to a minor.

‘’In such cases related to minors we do not provide details,’’ he said.

Haneef also declined to confirm local media reports alleging Rasheed and the 17 year-old girl had been found naked when discovered together by police.

Ibrahim Rasheed is a well known politician and a senior figure within the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

Legal grounds

According to Maldivian law, any person under 18 years of age is considered a minor.

Special provisions relating to child sex abuse cases state that “for the purpose of this law, unless proven otherwise, the courts shall not accept that the sexual activity was carried out with the consent of the minor, if the minor is between the ages of 13 to 18.”

Sexual offences involving minors is punishable by up to 25 years imprisonment.

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Man arrested on suspicion of performing black magic

Police have arrested a 46 year-old man living on the island of Ihavandhoo in Haa Alifu Atoll on suspicion of performing black magic.

Police Sub-Inspector Hassan Haneef today told Minivan News that a man had been arrested Thursday (January 3) on the basis of reports received by authorities.

According to Haneef, the suspect was brought before a judge to decide on his detention period, with the presiding court granting police 10 days to detain the suspect.

Haneef said that lots of tools that could be used to perform black magic, such as documents, books and other materials were found at the suspect’s home.

Local media has reported that the man arrested was believed to be the Imam of the island.

An Ihavandhoo Island councillor has told local media that the suspect, originally from Fuvamulah, had moved to the island of Ihavandhoo last year December.

The councillor alleged that after the suspect arrived on the island, fears had risen among islanders that he had been performing black magic.

The councillor pointed to rumours that had been circulating since the suspect’s arrival on the island that disturbing incidents had been occurring on the island.

Back in June last year, the Maldives Police Service (MPS) arrested an opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) activist on charges of practising black magic.

The Activist’s arrest at the time was made just days after the MPS had raided the MDP protest camp at Usfasgandu on the basis of “suspected black magic performed in the area”.

A warrant released at the time approved the raid on the basis of evidence alleged to include that people at the site had previously thrown a “cursed rooster” at Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) officers.

A case is also presently being heard in the country’s courts concerning the murder of a 76 year-old male alleged to have been a sorcerer, whose body was discovered with with multiple stab wounds on the island of Kudahuvadhoo in January 2012.

Back in 1953, Hakeem Didi was executed by firing squad along with some alleged accomplices after they were found guilty of conspiracy to murder by black magic.

The case was the last time the Maldives judicially executed a criminal suspect.

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Criminal Court extends detention of ‘Reeko’ Moosa’s son-in-law

The Criminal Court yesterday (January 2) extended the pretrial detention period of Abdulla Javid, son-in-law of opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Chairperson and MP ‘Reeko’ Moosa Manik, following his arrest in early December.

Criminal Court Spokesperson Ahmed Mohamed Manik today told Minivan News that the suspect’s detention period had been extended by an additional 15 days.  Manik said he could not confirm any other details of the case at present.

Abdull Javid was arrested on December 4, 2012.  Police have not officially confirmed the charges against him.

Police Spokesperson Sub-Inspector Hassan Haneef said today that authorities would be giving information related to its investigations into the murder of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) MP Dr Afrasheem Ali only during press conferences held for the specific purpose.

Following the suspect’s detention, the MDP last month accused the Maldives Police Service of attempting to pin Afrasheem’s murder on members of the opposition party rather than going after those guilty of the crime.  The MDP has continued to call for Javid’s release since.

Javid had unsuccessfully attempted to appeal the first extension of his detention at the High Court.

A lower court ruling at the time stated that Javid had been brought under police custody in connection with the murder of Ungoofaaru Constituency MP Dr Afrasheem.  However, the High Court supported the lower court’s decision to hold Javid in detention for the investigation of the case on the grounds that police had obtained a phone call recording as evidence.

The court ruled that the phone call was an adequate evidence to suspect someone of a crime, referring to the constitution’s article that allows holding persons accused of a crime at pretrial detention.

Dr Afrasheem was killed on October 1. His wife discovered the body lying on the staircase of their home.

He was elected to parliament in 2009 as a member of the then-opposition Dhivehi Rayithunge Party (DRP). Following the opposition’s split, Afrasheem sided with the PPM, established by former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.

Considered an Islamic moderate, Dr Afrasheem took outspoken and controversial positions on issues such as the permissibility of playing music, and praying next to the deceased.

During the investigation of the Mp’s murder, police have offered a reward of MVR500,000 for anyone providing substantial information on the case.

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Cameroonian inmate held in Maldives prison dies in hospital

A female inmate serving a 25-year sentence in a Maldives prison died Saturday (December 29, 2012) after being admitted to Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) in critical condition.

Local media reported that the woman – a Cameroonian national – was suspected to have died as a result of complications linked to AIDs.  These claims were denied by a senior official at the Department of Penitentiary and Rehabilitation Services (DPRS), who spoke to Minivan News on condition of anonymity today.

‘’She was admitted at IGMH months ago after doctors at the prison found her medical condition to be very serious,’’ the source said. ‘’We contacted the Cameroon mission and tried to take her to her family.’’

The DPRS source claimed that permission had been obtained to send the inmate back to her home country. However, she was unable to be transported due to the serious nature of medical conditions she had been suffering from.

‘’Here at the DPRS, we do not have one single medical record of her or any other document that confirms she had AIDS,’’ the source said. ‘’I therefore cannot confirm the news in the local media.’

The DPRS Official told Minivan News that the woman was suffering from heart diseases and other related medical conditions.

‘’On previous occasions she was taken to IGMH twice while she was in prison,’’ claimed the source.

Newspaper Haveeru reported today that it understood the deceased, who had been sentenced back in 2011, had been diagnosed with AIDS.  No details were provided in the report on how has the newspaper had confirmed details of the condition.

AIDs concerns

Statistics indicate that HIV infection rates have been limited in the Maldives over the space of the last two decades, although health officials in the country have begun to raise concerns about the potential risk of cases spreading.

Late last year, senior Maldivian health figures confirmed that a two year-old child had tested HIV positive.

In October, Minister of Health Dr Ahmed Jamsheed Mohamed claimed it was only through “incredible luck” that HIV had not spread across the Maldives, considering the prolific levels of unprotected sex and intravenous drug use.

While accepting that HIV infection rates remained relatively low in the Maldives, Minister of State for Health Lubna Zahir Hussain has previously said that efforts needed to be increased across all sectors of society to tackle attitudes towards high-risk behaviours that allow the virus to be transmitted.  Lubna also heads the National Drug Agency (NDA).

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