Author: Ahmed Nazeer

Local actor among six arrested for possessing illegal drugs

Police have arrested local actor Ibrahim ‘Dhaas’ Giyas along with another man and four women while they were inside a house in Galolhu ward, in possession of illegal drugs and a large amount of cash.

In a statement, police said two men and four women were arrested for being in possession of illegal drugs inside the house. The statement did not reveal the identity of those arrested, but local newspapers confirmed that Giyas was among those taken into custody.

According to police, the group was inside a house called Kamadhoo when police officers searched their room on the ground floor, and discovered six bullet-sized rubber packets containing suspected illegal drugs and MVR 71,470 (US$4640). In a further search, police found 15 more packets containing suspected illegal drugs, empty rubber packets, and US$50.

A forged US$100 dollar note and a 500ml empty water bottle containing suspected alcohol were also discovered inside the room in the first floor of the house, according to the police statement.

Police said the arrested women were aged 21, 23, 31 and 18, while the two men were 31 and 45 years-old.

Local newspaper ‘Haveeru’ reported that the court had previously sentenced Giyas on charges of homosexuality.

Haveeru identified the other man arrested as Mirufath Haneef ‘Hanee’, a well-known local tailor, who was also previously sentenced with Giyas on homosexuality charges.

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Six women and four men arrested with alcohol, police and army uniforms

Police last night raided a house called Peach Melba in Henveiru ward, and arrested six women, four men and a minor, whose gender was not disclosed, after police discovered alcohol and police and army uniforms inside the residence.

According to a statement by police, officers raided the house in response to information reported to police, and arrested people inside the house.

Police officers discovered two bottles containing suspected alcohol, one empty alcohol bottle and glasses that were allegedly used to consume alcohol, police said.

A piece of cellophane containing suspected narcotics was also discovered after  police searched a cigarette packet on the shoe rack inside the room.

Furthermore, police said some police and army uniforms were also found inside, although the residence was not home to anyone employed in the police or Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF).

According to local media, police found police Special Operations (SO) combat uniforms and both MNDF combat and normal uniforms.

Police have not identified the 10 arrested, but said they were aged between 19 and 37 while the minor arrested was 16 years-old, according to police.

The police Drug Enforcement Department (DED) is further investigating the case.

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MDP activist ‘Nazaki’ Zaki appointed as Deputy Leader of GIP

The Gaumee Ithihaadh Party (GIP) led by current President Dr Waheed Hassan Manik has appointed former Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) activist and current Ambassador to Malaysia Mohamed ‘Nazaki’ Zaki as the party’s Deputy Leader.

Secretary General of GIP Mohamed Mushrif told local media that ‘Nazaki’ Zaki was appointed with the full majority of 11 council members that were at the council meeting held last night.

The party decided to appoint a Deputy Leader before its National Congress because it was difficult for Dr Waheed to run the party while performing his duties as the President at the same time.

The position was previously filled by the former government’s Education Minister and Chancellor of the Maldives National University (MNU) Dr Musthafa Luthfy, who was appointed to the then-cabinet as a GIP member. He later shifted to MDP and remains a member of the party, after its acrimonious 2010 split from the MDP coalition.

Online newspaper ‘Sun’ quoted Zaki as saying that he had been a member of GIP since May this year after resigning from the MDP in April.

He told the paper that he had joined GIP because he found it easy to work with Dr Waheed and said it was possible that he might very soon resign from the position of ambassador and focus solely on running the party.

He also said that his reason for departing the MDP was because of the influence of “several people” within the party, and claimed that then-President of MDP Dr Ibrahim Didi was unable to run the party.

The President’s party had 2508 members by the end of September 2012 according to the Elections Commission. It has no representation in parliament or local councils.

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Four arrested in connection with Fuvamulak stabbings

Three men and a minor have been arrested in connection with a gang fight that occurred in Fuvamulah yesterday.

According to police, an 18 year-old, 21 year-old, and 23 year old man and a minor were arrested in connection with the stabbing.

Police said the incident occurred at around 7:40pm, withtwo men aged 21 and 22 years-old stabbed on the island of Fuvamulah in Gnaviyani Atoll.

Police said the 21 year-old man was stabbed in the neck and was brought Male’ after Fuvamulah Atoll Hospital declared his condition was critical.

The man was brought Male’ this morning and was admitted to Indira Gandi Memorial Hospital (IGMH)’s Intensive Care Unit.

The injured pair were identified the police as Ahmed Muslim, 21 and Ibrahim Shifaz, 22 both from the island of Fuvamulah.

Shifaz was stabbed three times. According to doctors police said blood was leaking inside Muslim’s body from the cut in his neck.

Police officers attended the scene and carried the pair to Fuvamulah Hospital.

Fuvamulak Police Station is now investigating the case, police said.

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JP MP Jabir to file complaint against MP Muthalib over allegations of alcohol use

Jumhoree Party (JP) MP Abdulla Jabir has said he intends to file a complaint against MP Ibrahim Muthalib at parliament’s Privileges Committee for accusing him of carrying a bottle of alcohol.

During yesterday’s sitting of parliament, MP Muthalib, who joined the religious conservative Adhaalath Party last year, alleged that he had seen MP Jabir walking out of the Hilton Hotel “with a bottle of alcohol in one hand and his wife in the other.”

MP Jabir’s wife is Minister of Gender, Family and Human Rights, Dhiyana Saeed.

The Fares-Maathoda MP made the allegation during a debate on problems facing the fisheries industry.

MPs have immunity from prosecution or defamation suits for remarks made during parliamentary debates.

Muthalib accused Jabir, chairman of resort company Yacht Tours, of using his time during parliamentary debates to “mock” the Islamic Ministry, the Adhaalath Party, and Islam.

In response, MP Jabir raised a point of order and said he regretted that “the Fares-Maathoda MP, who will see his own face and shape when he stands in front of a mirror and know he looks like someone who has committed theft after being elected as an MP [and] just told a blatant lie about us.”

The MP for Kaafu Kaashidhoo also remarked that MP Muthalib lacked “any education for someone who pretends to be a religious scholar.”

Jabir alleged that MP Muthalib was once banished for forging a signature, calling him a “big thief”.

Muthalib has meanwhile denied the allegations in local media today. Both the JP and Adhaalath are part of the current ruling coalition led by President Dr Mohamed Waheed.

In the 2008 presidential election, Adhaalath Party backed JP presidential candidate and business magnate Gasim Ibrahim and formed a coalition with the Republican party.

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Conflicting reports over DQP MP Riyaz’s resignation from party

Various local media sources have published conflicting reports over the resignation of Dhivehi Qaumy Party (DQP) Parliamentary Group Leader and MP Riyaz Rasheed from the party.

Secretary General of the DQP Abdulla Ameen told local news outlet ‘Sun’ that Riyaz had sent a letter informing the party of his decision to resign.

Newspaper Haveeru also reported that Riyaz had sent a resignation letter to the party.

However, Riyaz told Haveeru that he had not left DQP and that the letter was sent to highlight some of the issues within the party.

During today’s parliament sitting, Riyaz implied that he meant he had left the DQP. After he made the remarks in parliament, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MP Ali Waheed asked Speaker Abdulla Shahid if Riyaz had left the DQP, to which the Speaker replied that Riyaz had not officially informed parliament of such a move.

Riyaz is known for having a close association with the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) led by Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. Reports on social media suggested that Riyaz was going to leave the DQP to join the PPM. However, these reports were dismissed by Riyaz.

DQP Leader Dr Hassan Saeed, Secretary General Ameen and Riyaz were not responding to calls at time of press.

MP Rasheed earlier this year became known for his criticism of the Commonwealth and Queen Elizabeth.

During a speech on DhiTV in March, he argued that the British public had funded the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) in return for the establishment of churches in the Maldives, and also alleged that the UK hated the Maldives for gaining its independence.

Rasheed went onto criticise Queen Elizabeth stating, “After 50 years, the English Queen, she is physically challenged. But she is still the Queen, and if she wants she can remove the Prime Minister. Where is democracy? Where is democracy? That is not a democracy.”

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First hearing held in unlawful dismissal case of former head of marine police

The Civil Court has conducted the first hearing into former Police Superintendent Ibrahim Adnan Anees’s case of unfair dismissal.

Anees, the former head of marine police, was accused of assisting the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) by providing information to the party for its Ameen-Aslam report into February 7’s controversial transfer of power.

According to local media, Anees’s lawyer Ismail Visham told the court that his client was relived of police duty on criminal charges after police took statements from his client charging him with criminal offences.

Anees’s lawyer told the court that it was against the constitution to take action against a person charged with criminal offences without holding a fair trial.

He also told the judge it was questionable how Police Commissioner Abdulla Riyaz and Home Minister Mohamed Jameel had determined that the information Anees shared was confidential.

Moreover, he requested the judge determine if the dismissal was unlawful and to reinstate Anees’s job with police.

When the state was given the opportunity to respond the state attorney asked for more time. The Judge decided that the state’s response will be heard during the next hearing.

In August the  Police Disciplinary Board decided to relieve Chief Superintendent ‘MC’ Mohamed Hameed and Superintendent Ibrahim Adhnan Anees of duty.

The Disciplinary Board has also decided to demote Superintendent ‘Lady’ Ibrahim Manik to Chief Inspector of Police, and to remove the disciplinary badge on his uniform.

Hameed, Adhnan and ‘Lady’ Ibrahim Manik were among only a few police senior officers who did not join the events of February 7, which saw mutinying police hand out riot gear to opposition demonstrators and launch an all-out assault on the country’s main military headquarters.

In June, Anees sued the Maldives Police Service seeking compensation for medical treatment of injuries sustained after mutinying police officers allegedly attacked him in Republic Square and inside police headquarters on February 7.

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

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Juvenile Court acquits minor charged over Villingili murder

The Juvenile Court has today ruled that a minor charged with the murder of 25-year old Ahmed Mirzah Ibrahim was innocent, citing a lack of evidence to support a conviction.

Juvenile Court Spokesperson Zaeema Nasheed confirmed that the ruling was made today. but could not give further information to Minivan News as she was not in Male’ at the time of going to press.

Local media has reported that the Juvenile Court ruled that statements given by two witnesses produced to the court were insufficient to prove that the defendant, who could not be named on account of their age, was guilty.

According to the ‘Sun’ Online news service, during police investigations, the two witnesses had told authorities that they saw the minor attacking Mirza.  However, in court both witnesses denied the statements they had given to police, claiming that they have not seen the minor attack the victim.

In April last year, Mirza Ibrahim was struck in the head with an iron bar while he was sitting inside a park in Villingili, the ward of Male’ where he lived.

Mirza did not survive the severe injuries received to his head during the attack and was rushed to Indira Gandi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) where he was declared brain-dead.  He was then put on life support at IGMH.

Police initially suspected that the attack involved a gang, while Minivan News at the time received unsubstantiated reports that the assault was prompted following comments made about a girl.

During the early hours of April 14, Mirza died at IGMH. Police arrested five persons in connection with the case.

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Mother of former Environment Minister sues police for damage to house during Nasheed’s arrest

Mother of former Environment Minister Mohamed Aslam, Rasheedha Mohamed, has sued police for damage caused to her house by police officers during the raid to arrest former President Mohamed Nasheed.

Speaking to Minivan News, Aslam confirmed his mother had filed a case at the Fares-Mathoda Magistrate Court, alleging police had disrespected the privacy of their house as guaranteed to all citizens in the constitution.

‘’It is not about the amount of money to compensate for the damage, it has all got to do with the procedure they applied to arrest Nasheed,’’ Aslam said.

‘’I was on the doorstep when the police officers arrived. They showed me the warrant issued by the court to arrest Nasheed and I told them to wait there while I passed the message to him,’’ Aslam explained.

‘’But they followed me inside and started searching all over, breaking doors and calling Nasheed to come out from his room,’’ Aslam said. ‘’It would have been right for them to use excessive force if they had let me forward the message to Nasheed and Nasheed had refused to come out.’’

Aslam said had Nasheed refused to come out, police could have asked his mother’s permission to enter the house to arrest a person as ordered to do so by the court.

He also said that police asked Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MP Mohamed Nazim to open the toilet door while he was inside.

‘’Nazim told the officers that it was him but officers demanded to open the door and he did open the door. Then a while later they broke the toilet door while he was inside,’’ he said.

Following allegations made against police after the arrest of Nasheed, police issued a statement that day claiming that police officers followed professional standards in arresting Nasheed.

In the statement, police said they initially requested Nasheed hand himself over to the police. According to police, officers broke down the door of the room Nasheed was in and detained him after he failed to respond to their initial commands. The statement claimed that this is the general course of action used by police in similar situations.

The police denied that any officers used offensive language or that any physical or that psychological trauma was caused to anyone during the arrest.

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