Author: Ahmed Nazeer

Civil Court again summons DRP MPs Azim and Nashiz over unpaid debt of MVR 117 million

The Civil Court has sent summons to Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) MPs Ali Azim and Mohamed Nashiz, regarding  a case concerning unpaid loans taken by Funaddoo Tuna Products from the Bank of Maldives in which the pair were the guarantors.

Both Nashiz and Azim were ordered to produce themselves to the Civil Court at 2:45pm tomorrow.

In 2010, the Civil Court and the High Court ordered the company to repay a loan of MVR 117 million (US$7.6 million) taken from the Bank of Maldives. The Civil Court’s ruling stated that the guarantors are also responsible for the loan.

The case has now been submitted to the Civil Court as the company failed to follow the court ruling to pay within a term of one year.

The Civil Court previously ordered police to summon the MPs to court, but later withdrew the summons ahead of a vote on secret ballots for a no-confidence motion against President Waheed.

MP Azim  alleged that President Waheed Hassan and other senior members of the executive had approached him, offering to cancel the court summons if he agreed to vote for the secret balloting in a way they preferred.

Azim alleged that in addition to Waheed, his Political Advisor Ahmed Thaufeeq and Spokesperson Abbas Adil Riza had called him and made similar statements.

MP Riza subsequently voted in favour of the secret ballots. He told local newspaper ‘Haveeru’ that he was “not a fugitive” and would be at the court tomorrow.

A ruling against the MPs would disqualify both from their seat at the parliament as the constitution states that any MP with a decreed debt not paid according to court order will be disqualified.

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Criminal Court extends detention of two suspects in Dr Afrasheem’s murder case

The Criminal Court has extended the pre-trial detention period of two suspects arrested in connection with the murder of MP and religious scholar Dr Afrasheem Ali.

Local press identified the two suspects as Ali Hashim ‘Smith’ from the island of Dhidhoo in Haa Alifu Atoll, and Hassan Humam from Male’.

The Criminal Court and the police did not give any information to the public on the case and did not revealed what evidence was obtained and produced to the court.

However, Home Minister Dr Mohamed Jameel held a press conference on Sunday where he said that police had found enough evidence to bring the culprits to justice. He declined to provide further details but said police would soon provide more information.

Little is known about the investigation as the police and the government have not divulged any information relating to the investigation.

At a recent Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) rally, former President Mohamed Nasheed alleged that Police Commissioner Abdulla Riyaz would by now know the person behind the murder and called on the government to bring them before justice.

Nasheed also recalled that police had not been providing any information on the case and claimed that the government was not doing enough to bring the perpetrator to justice.

Several days later, President Dr Waheed Hassan Manik responded to these comments by saying the investigation was underway and that the police would update the public on the investigation.

Minivan News understands that another suspect was arrested in connection with the case, after the police noticed that on the night of Afrasheem’s murder he wore the same colored shirt as caught on the CCTV footage near the area where Afrasheem was murdered.

According to a family member of the suspect arrested, he has not been released yet and his pre-trial detention period has been continuously extended along with the other suspects.

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

Immediately prior to his murder Afrasheem had made his last public appearanceon a live talkshow on TVM titled “Islamee Dhiriulhun” (Islamic Living).

In his last words, Afrasheem said that he was deeply saddened and asked for forgiveness from citizens if he had created a misconception in their minds due to his inability to express himself in the right manner.

Minister of Islamic Affairs Sheikh Shaheem Ali Saeed was quoted in local media as saying that the Islamic Ministry had not forced Afrasheem to offer a public apology for anything during his last television appearance and disputed that there was any religious motivation in the death of the moderate scholar.

The Maldives Police Service (MPS) has sought assistance from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Singaporean police to analyse 200 items collected as evidence during the ongoing investigation.

Evidence gathered so far includes recordings of phone conversations, forensic samples and over 300 hours of CCTV footage, which were being analysed at the police forensic laboratory with the help of foreign experts.

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Two minors sentenced to 16 years for smuggling illegal drugs

The Juvenile Court has sentenced a 16 year-old Maldivian boy and 16 year-old girl to 16 years imprisonment for smuggling 1.5 kilograms of cannabis into the Maldives.

November 30, 2009, customs officials at Male’ International Airport searched the luggage of a girl who just arrived to Male’ from Trivandrum with another woman.

The officials discovered the illegal substances wrapped in a new bed sheet inside her luggage. The girl surrendered the drugs to customs and told the officials that she had more hidden inside her body.

A total of 1.5 kilograms of cannabis were found with her according to the Juvenile Court.

The girl was then handed over to police who conducted a special operation to determine the intended recipient of the drugs, leaving the girl and the woman inside a guest house.

Police determined that the 16 year-old boy was the recipient when he came in to the guest house to receive the drugs from the girl, and arrested him.

The boy was charged in the Juvenile Court with assisting to smuggle illegal drugs into the country and possessing illegal drugs with the intention to distribute.

The substances obtained from the girl’s luggage and her body tested positive to THC – the active ingredient in cannabis – when police tested them. Three police officers told the court that the result of the test was valid.

Both the girl and the boy were prosecuted under the old Drug Act because the constitution states that the penalty of a crime should be determined by the law in existence at the time when the crime was committed.

According to the Juvenile Court, the woman was also arrested in connection with the case. Her trial is continuing in the Criminal Court.

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JP backs hiding of votes during no-confidence motion against President and Home Minister

Jumhoree Party (JP) MP Alhan Fahmy has said that the party supports the motion submitted to the parliament committee by Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) proposing that votes during the upcoming no-confidence vote filed at the parliament against President and Home Minister be hidden.

Speaking to local press in the Villa TV conference hall, Alhan Fahmy said that his party’s parliamentary group was following instructions from the party’s leader and MP, Gasim Ibrahim.

Alhan said it would be difficult to cooperate with the government unless it gave a fair reason as to why Transport Minister Dr Ahmed Shahmheed was this week dismissed from his position, after he awarded a 99 year lease to Gasim’s Maamagili airport.

Alleging that Dr Shahmheed was dismissed because he did not support every decision made by the President, Alhan questioned why President Waheed had failed to take action against the Nexbis project, and alleged corruption in the recent sale of a 30 percent stake of the Addu International Airport Company Pvt Ltd (AIA) to business magnate ‘Champa’ Hussain Afeef’s Kasa Holdings.

He also alleged that President Waheed was not fair in taking action against those accused of corruption, and noted that Thilafushi Corporation’s Managing Director Mohamed Latheef was dismissed from the position on allegations of corruption but later appointed to another position.

Alhan likewise noted that Felivaru Chairman Mohamed Imthiyaz – a member of the JP – was dismissed on allegations of corruption but said Waheed did not appoint him to another position.

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Murder suspect blames earlier confession on police brutality, denies charges

Mohamed Samah, who is accused of murdering a police officer on the island of Kaashidhoo in July, has claimed during the second court hearing in the case that the confession he made during the previous hearing was a result of police torture while in custody.

The presiding judge asked if Samah could prove the allegation to the court, but Samah said he could not.

The judge then inquired as to whether he was kept in a separate cell and if he had met with other inmates. Samah replied that at at first he was kept in a separate cell and now he was with other inmates.

However, the judge said that during the trial one could not change what he had said earlier, and reminded Samah that today’s hearing was to hear his response to the statements of the heirs of the deceased.

During the hearing, Samah told the judge that executing him under Islamic Sharia would better for him that the torture he had to faced in prison.

The judge revealed that four of the three heirs of Lance Corporal Adam Haleem wanted to have Samah executed if the court found him guilty of the crime.

The fourth heir of Haleem was a minor, and the judge said he will determine the view of scholars of the four sects of Islam make a decision on how to deal with this particular case concerning taking the statement from the minor.

Before concluding today’s hearing the judge said that a verdict would be delivered next week.

On July 23 Lance Corporal Adam Haleem was stabbed to death on Kaashidhoo island in Kaafu Atoll.

Haleem was attacked while he was on his way to Kaashidhoo police station to report to duty.

While he was on the way to the police station police alleged he saw Mohamed Samah on the road, who was supposed to be under house arrest. Haleem followed Samah to his house and asked him to get himself ready to come with him to the police station.

Samah refused to go to the police station and became angry, police alleged, claiming that he entered his house and took an eight inch knife from the kitchen, which he used to stab Haleem in the left side of the chest.

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Roads closed for Republic Day ceremonies

Several roads in the southeast of Male’ will be closed for the public for a special ceremony on Sunday ‘Dharubaaruge’ to mark the 44th Republic Day of the Maldives.

Some of the main roads that will be closed include fuel shed area on Boduthakurufaanu Magu, the area where Ameenee Magu and Boduthakurufaanu Magu meets, Moonlight Hingun, the end where Janavaree Magu and Buruzu Magu meets.

Police said any other road that has to be closed due to any reason will be closed, and thanked the people for their cooperation and apologised to the people for any inconvenience caused due to the closure of these roads.

Meanwhile, the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) has set up a huge stage at the Republican Square to perform a musical event as a celebration of Republic Day.

Former President of the Maldives Mohamed Nasheed has also issued a statement sending greetings to all Maldivians.

The Maldives declared Republic on 11 November 1968, ending the 853 year-old monarchy. The monarchy was replaced by a republic under the presidency of President Ibrahim Nasir.

The official name of the country was then changed from ‘Maldive Islands’ to the ‘Maldives.’

On 15 March 1968 a national referendum was held on the question with 93.34 percent of those taking part voted in favor of establishing a republic.

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Religious NGO Salaf to hold children’s evening

Religious NGO Jamiyythul Salaf has announced the organisation is planning a special event next Thursday for children, hosted by former singer Ali Rameez and Ahmed Simau.

The NGO said that the event will be named ‘Banoon’ and will be held at the Artificial Beach from 4:00pm to 5:30pm.

The event includes religious poems, advice from Sheikhs, dramas and stories. In addition, during the event children will be given gifts and the opportunity to show their talents on stage.

Salaf has appealed to all parents to participate.

On the same night, Salaf said there will be Q&A program for adults based on the topic ‘Faith and Salah’.

The program will start at 9:00pm and will end at 11:00pm. Five Sheikhs will be on the panel to answer the questions by attendees.

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Police arrest six MDP members on Bilehfahi island for disturbing the peace and throwing rocks

Police have confirmed that six men from the island of Bilehfahi in Shaviyani Atoll have been arrested after they allegedly threw rocks at some roofs and disturbed the peace of the island.

According to a statement issued by the police, three 23 year-old men, a 21 year-old man, 24 year-old man and a 32 year-old man were arrested. Police did not reveal their identities.

Police said an operation was conducted by Shaviyani Atoll Police Station after police were informed that the group of men were throwing rocks at houses and were exploding plastic bottles in areas where people live.

Police received assistance and cooperation from the people of the island during the arrest of the six men, they said.

Following the arrests, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) issued a statement saying that the six arrested were MDP members and they were arrested to obstruct MDP activities conducted on the island.

The MDP called the arrests ‘unlawful’ and called on the authorities to release the six immediately.

People had been throwing rocks at a café shop owned by a MDP member in the island and when it was reported to police, police said they were too busy and they did not have time to investigate the matter.

MDP alleged that the arrest was a setup planned by the council and police, and that the men arrested had played aq lead role in decorating the island for the MDP’s upcoming tour of Shaviyani Atoll.

In the statement the party called on the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM), Police Integrity Commission and Prosecutor General (PG) to investigate unlawful actions carried out by the police.

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Independent Commission’s Committee sends CSC Chair’s harassment case to parliament to approve his dismissal

Parliament’s Independent Commission’s Committee has decided that the committee has enough evidence to find Civil Service Commission (CSC) Chair Mohamed Fahmy Hassan guilty of harassing a female staff member working under the CSC, and has decided to send the issue to parliament sitting to approve Fahmy’s dismissal.

According to local media, the committee has now sent the report from the committee regarding the issue to the Speaker of Parliament.

The incident is said to have occurred on May 29. In June this year, Police Spokesperson Sub-Inspector Hassan Haneef told Minivan News that the case was lodged at police as well, who were investigating the matter.

Both Fahmy and the victim were summoned to the parliament’s Independent Commission’s committee after the complaint was lodged.

Fahmy was alleged to have called the female staff member over to him, taken her hand and asked her to stand in front of him so that others in the office could not see, and caressed her stomach saying ”It won’t do for a beautiful single woman like you to get fat.”

According to local media, the woman told her family about the incident, who then called Fahmy. Fahmy then sent her a text message apologising for the incident, reportedly stating, ”I work very closely with everyone. But I have learned my lesson this time.”

In response to the allegations Fahmy told Minivan News that the female staff member made up the allegation after she learned she had not won a scholarship to Singapore offered by the CSC.

He alleged the claim was politically motivated, as she would have otherwise filed the case with police and not parliament.

Earlier in July this year, the Independent Commission’s Committee gave Fahmy 14 days to resign after investigating the matter, however he then informed the committee that he would not resign.

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