Author: Ahmed Nazeer

Inmates start fire after imprisoned inside shipping container

An inmate brought to Male’ for medical treatment started a fire inside a shipping container in Male’ Prison where he was temporarily kept.

State Home Minister Ahmed Adhil said the inmate was kept inside a container made to keep prisoners.

”He set fire to the pillows,” said Adhil. ”It’s nothing too serious, the media is reporting it as if it is very serious. We are investigating the incident and then we will know what actually happened,” he added.

He noted that prisoners were allowed to smoke and therefore had access to fire.

Police Sub-Inspector Ahmed Shiyam also confirmed that a fire occurred inside Male’ prison.

”Police were informed that a fire incident occurred inside the prison,” Shiyam said. ”We are currently investigating the incident, so far it does not seem like it is a very serious issue.”

Journalists present outside Male’ jail while the incident occurred reported that riot police were seen entering the Male’ prison and that inmates were heard shouting that they were being tortured.

A while later some prisoners were brought out and transferred to a boat by prison officers.

A Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) fire vehicle was seen entering the prison, but no smoke was observed.

Persons familiar with the matter claimed that inmates were furious that they had to stay inside the metal container and were desperate to get out.

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Parliament accepts amendment to Clemency Act to uphold death sentences

Parliament today accepted the amendment presented by Jumhoree Party (JP) MP Ibrahim Muthalib which requires the death sentence be implemented as execution if the Supreme Court upholds a death sentence issued by a lower court or if the Supreme Court itself issues a death sentence.

Out of the 59 present MPs there were 14 MPs who declined the amendment and three MPs that did not vote on either side.

MDP MPs Alhan Fahmy, Eva Abdulla, Hamid Abdul Gafoor, ‘Reeco’ Moosa Manik, Ilyas Labeeb, Imthiyaz Fahmy, Ibrahim Rasheed, Rugiyya Mohamed, Mohamed ‘Colonel’ Nasheed, Ahmed Rasheed, Mohamed Aslam, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and DRP MPs Ali Azim and Hussein Mohamed voted to dismiss the amendment.

Meanwhile MDP MPs Ahmed Easa, Ahmed Hamza and Independent MP Mohamed Nasheed were the three that did not vote on either side.

If the amendment is passed the president will not have the authority to grant clemency on those sentenced to death and law enforcing agencies will be left with no other choice but to execute those sentenced to death.

Statistics from the Criminal Court show that over the past 10 years, it has sentenced 14 persons to death which have not implemented. Police later arrested them for committing other offenses.

Before Muthalib presented this amendment, Maldivian Democratic Party MP Ibrahim Rasheed who also voted to dismiss the bill today presented the same bill weeks ago and withdrew it in the last minutes.

Rasheed said he will present the bill after some belated bills in the parliament were passed.

When presenting the amendment Muthalib said the objective of the amendment was to uphold Islamic Sharia in the Maldives.

Meanwhile, the Criminal Justice Procedure Bill presented by MDP Parliamentary Group leader Moosa Manik was approved by the parliament recently and has been sent to the National Security Committee to review.

The Maldivian judicial system defers to Islamic Shar’ia law in cases where existing laws and regulation are found not to apply. In an interview with Minivan News in 2008, Minister for Islamic Affairs Dr Abdul Majeed Abdul Bari claimed that three crimes punishable by death under Islamic Shar’ia were murder, adultery (by those already married) and apostasy.

Critics of the amendment have pointed to the state of the judiciary as a reason for delaying the bill, with one judge last week acknowledging that 31 serving judges had criminal records. The judiciary has also been criticised by the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), which questioned the independence of the Judicial Services Commission (JSC).

The last person be judicially executed in the Maldives was Hakim Didi in 1953, who was executed by firing squad after being found guilty of consipiracy to murder using black magic.

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Police dismiss allegations that officer was arrested in connection to haul of 10 alcohol bottles

Police have denied reports that one of three men arrested in a Heniveru house last week in possession of 10 bottles of alcohol was a police officer.

Alcohol is banned on inhabited islands in the Maldives.

”[The officer] was arrested while he was inside that house with two others,” claimed a person familiar with the matter. ”He is currently under house arrest, the other two are still in police custody.”

Deputy Head of the Serious and Organised Crime Department (SOC), Inspector Abdulla Nawaz, told the press that three men were arrested inside Aadhage in Henveiru Aadhage, after police discovered eight bottles of alcohol inside a bag in the house and other two more bottles in a second bag.

Six empty alcohol bottles were discovered inside the house, Nawaz said, and a bayonet.

Nawaz did not give further information about the three persons arrested.

Police Sub-Inspector Ahmed Shiyam said that no police officer had been arrested in connection with discovery of the ten bottles and the knife.

”A police officer may have been arrested in an operation conducted,” he said. ”But we can confirm that no police officer was arrested in connection with the alcohol bottles.”

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Villingili observes moment of silence in memory of assault victim

A group of about 200 people living in Villingili on Friday observed a moment of silence to commemorate Ahmed Mirza, 25, who died after  suffering severe injuries to his head in a violent attack last week.

The group marched on the streets of Villingili calling for the death penalty to be issued to murderers. Demonstrators also marched towards the houses of five suspects arrested in connection with the case and gathered outside.

Media reported that police blocked the entrance of the houses as demonstrators gathered around.

The march was also attended by opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) MP Ahmed Nihan and family members of Mirza, and ended peacefully at the Children’s Park in Villingili where Mirza was last sitting before he was attacked

Nihan did not respond to Minivan News at time of press.

Mirza was assaulted last Monday with iron bars and other weapons in Villingili after he allegedly made comments concerning a girl.

He died early Thursday morning in Indira Gandi Memorial Hospital (IGMH).

Mirza was declared brain-dead after doctors at the IGMH examined him and was kept on life support for almost two days according to the family’s wishes.

Mirza’s father told local newspaper Haveeru that his son had made plans to marry his girlfriend after a month.

Currently a Criminal Procedure Bill and an amendment to the Clemency Act to uphold death sentences withdrawing the authority president has to grant clemency on those sentenced to death are being presented to the parliament to curb the gang violence.

The Criminal Procedure Bill presented by Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Parliamentary Group Leader MP ‘Reeco’ Moosa Manik was accepted by the parliament has now been sent to the National Security Committee.

The amendment to the Clemency Act presented by Jumhoree Party (JP) MP Ibrahim Muthalib requires to uphold death sentences if upheld by the Supreme Court or if the Supreme Court itself delivered a death sentence.

Currently all the death sentences issued are implemented as a 25 year imprisonment.

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Assault victim dies

Ahmed Mirza, 25, who was assaulted last Monday with an iron bars in Villingili after he allegedly made comments concerning a girl, died early this morning in Indira Gandi Memorial Hospital (IGMH).

Mirza was declared brain-dead after doctors at the IGMH examined him and was kept on life support according to the family’s wishes.

Yesterday Mirza’s sister said that doctors had said they had no hope that he would survive the severe injuries to his head.

Police arrested five persons in connection with the case.

Mirza was attacked last Monday night while he was sitting in a park in Villingili.

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14 death sentences issued in the past 10 years: Criminal Court

The Criminal Court has said that 14 death sentences have been passed in the last decade, however many of those convicted and given the sentence have been rearrested and brought before judges on different cases.

The court said that a total of 9197 persons had been given sentences for various crimes within the past 10 years – approximately three percent of the Maldives’ population.

2950 persons of the total 9197 convicted were banished, while 798 persons were placed under house arrest and 5435 persons were imprisoned, said the Criminal Court.

However, the court said many of the convicts who are supposed to be serving their time were brought before the judges accused of committing further offenses.

Meanwhile, the parliament has commenced its preliminary debate on the amendment presented by Jumhoory Party (JP) MP Ibrahim Muthalib to the Clemency Act, which requires death penalties to be implemented if the Supreme Court upholds a death sentence issued by a lower court or of the Supreme Court itself issues a death sentence.

If the amendment is passed the President will not have the authority to grant clemency for those who are found guilty of any offense that serves a death penalty.

The amendment was originally presented by Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MP Ibrahim Rasheed, who withdrew it claiming that he would resubmit it after bills relating to evidence and penal code were passed.

Parliamentary Group Leader of MDP ‘Reeko’ Moosa Manik has now presented the Criminal Justice Procedure Bill, which parliament has accepted and is awaiting preliminary debate.

As MPs present bills to try and control rising gang violence, early this morning a 25 year-old victim died in hospital after an assault two days ago that left him in a coma.

Another youth, Ahusan Basheer, 21, was stabbed to death last month on a busy street in Male. Ibrahim Shahum, 20, who was released by the court after being held in pre-trial detention for six months in connection with another murder case, was arrested along with two others. An under-aged girl, who reportedly witnessed the crime, was also arrested and kept in pre-trial detention.

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DRP MPs Ilham, Mahlouf and Gayoom’s lawyer Waheed to face disciplinary committee

The opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP)’s Council has decided to send DRP MPs Ahmed Mahlouf, DRP Deputy leader MP Ilham Ahmed and former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s lawyer Mohamed Waheed to the party’s disciplinary committee.

The Council made its decision after accusing Ilham, Mahlouf and Waheed of misleading the public over the work of party’s leader MP Ahmed Thasmeen Ali and disregarding the party’s interest and attempting to create internal splits in the party.

DRP Deputy leader MP Ilham said that the party’s charter did not allow party’s leader to dismiss anyone who criticises the party leader.

”The charter states that a deputy leader can be dismissed only if a third of the party’s congress votes to dismiss him,” Ilham said. ”There will be internal disputes in political parties, but this is not how to solve it.”

The disciplinary committee may decide to dismiss those Thasmeen wants to be removed from the party because Thasmeen controls the majority in the committee, said Ilham.

”But that would be a void decision,” he added.

Furthermore, Ilham said the case of former Deputy Leader Umar Naseer, who was also dismissed by the Disciplinary Committee, was now in court.

Umar faced the disciplinary committee and was dismissed after he conducted a protest which unauthorised by the party’s leadership. His dismissal over the matter has led to a hostile split in the party between factions loyal to former President Gayoom – the party’s ‘honorary leader’ – and its leader Thasmeen.

”We will respect the decision of the court, I do not believe that the court will rule against the party’s charter,” Ilham said.

Ilham, Waheed and Mahlouf are supporters of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s Z-DRP faction.

Thasmeen did not respond to Minivan News while Mahlouf was unavailable at time of press.

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Villingili assault victim on life support after gang attack causes serious head injury

A 25 year-old man who suffered severe head injuries in an assault by a gang in Villingili two days ago has been declared brain-dead and is currently on life support at Indira Gandi Memorial Hospital (IGMH).

Police Sub-Inspector Ahmed Shiyam said that police had received a report that the man had died, however this was not confirmed by the hospital.

”We can’t confirm whether he is dead, we have not yet received any official document yet,” Shiyam said, adding that five men had been arrested in connection with the attack.

IGMH Spokesperson Zeenath Ali told Minivan News that the victim’s condition was critical and that no progress had been observed since he was admitted to IGMH.

”The attack caused a very serious head injury,” she said. ”He is currently in a coma and on life support.”

Several media outlets have identified the person as Ahmed Mirza from the island of Maalhendhoo in Noonu Atoll.

Mirza, who works in a shop in Male’, was attacked on Monday night and rendered unconscious by his attackers. He was attacked while he was sitting in a park in Villingili.

Police have suggested the attack involved a gang, while Minivan News has received unsubstantiated reports that the assault was prompted following comments made about a girl.

A family member of the victim told local newspaper Haveeru that doctors had lost hope that Mizra would survive.

“He’s still on life support, hospitalised in the ICU because of the family’s request”, she told the paper. ”It’s like he’s gone, only with a pulse.”

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Opposition protests over managed float of currency end peacefully

Rival factions of the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) yesterday held separate protests against the government’s decision to allow the rufiya to be traded at rates of up to Rf15.42.

The faction led by former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom last night marched from the tsunami monument and down Ameenee Magu, a main street of Male’, together with the party’s former Deputy Leader Umar Naseer and MPs Ahmed Nihan, Ahmed Mahlouf, Ahmed Ilham and Gayoom’s spokesperson Ahmed ‘Mundhu’ Shareef.

Meanwhile, a much smaller protest led by DRP Deputy Leader Ali Waheed and several senior officials of the Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP) made its way down the main street of Majeedee Magu. DRP Leader Ahmed Thasmeen Ali was absent from the march.

Gayoom’s faction marched towards Muleeage’, the official residence of the President, with the intention of handing him a letter from the DRP. However they were obstructed by lines of police blocking streets in some places standing shoulder-to-shoulder. Instead, the marchers headed to police headquarters, where the police were given the letter to hand over to the President.

Both marches ended peacefully, aside from minor confrontations between police and DRP protesters on the route to Muleaage’.

Following a crackdown on the blackmarket trading of dollars at rates higher than the pegged rate of Rf12.85, which was hovering around 14.2, the government on Sunday declared a ‘managed float’ of the currency within a 20 percent band.

Many companies dealing in dollar commodities immediately raised their exchange rates to Rf 15.42, along with the Bank of Maldives. The Bank of Ceylon was selling dollars at 14.5 yesterday, while Habib bank was selling at 13.75. HSBC was selling at 15.4.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF), which has been critical of the government’s growing expenditure despite a large budget deficit, praised Sunday’s decision as a step towards a mature and sustainable economy.

“Today’s bold step by the authorities represents an important move toward restoring external sustainability,” the IMF said in a statement. “IMF staff support this decision made by the authorities. We remain in close contact and are ready to offer any technical assistance that they may request.”

The government’s move, while broadly unpopular, acknowledges the devaluation of the rufiya in the wake of increased expenditure and its inability to overcome the political obstacles inherent in reducing spending on the country’s bloated civil service.

However the Maldives relies almost entirely on imported goods and fuel, and many ordinary citizens will be harshly affected by short-term spike in prices of up to 20 percent as the rufiya settles.

“We do not really know, based on the breadth of the domestic economy, what the value of the Maldivian rufiyaa is right now,” Economic Development Minister Mahmoud Razee admitted at a press conference on Monday.

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