Author: Minivan News

Police arrest suspect in attack on MP Nazim Rashad

Police have arrested a suspect in Wednesday night’s attack on MP Nazim Rashad, reports Haveeru.

Police confirmed that the 21 year-old suspect was arrested Thursday night but declined to reveal his identity.

An eyewitness told Haveeru that the MP for Thulhaadhoo was assaulted around 11.30pm by a person riding a GN motorcycle after he came out of the Thandoor Café on Buruzu Magu

“He hit Nazim in the mouth about three times and yelled at him before going away from the area on his motorcycle. The person parked his motorcycle and came to Nazim while he was walking on the pavement,” the eyewitness said.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

AAA Trading Company pays part of outstanding rent and fines

AAA Trading Company Ltd has paid part of the outstanding rent and fines owed by three of its resorts to the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA), reports Haveeru.

The company’s shareholders include MP Ahmed Hamza of the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and Economic Advisor to the President Ali Shiyam. According to Haveeru, the three resorts owed US$6.5 million as of July 5, 2011.

MIRA has confirmed that the company paid US$1.4 million owed as rent for Zitali Resort and Spa and Medhufushi Island Resort on August 7, which was however 23 percent of the total amount owed by the company as unpaid rent and fines.

On August 16, the Tourism Ministry requested the Finance Ministry to recover the outstanding rent and fines from seven resorts yet to settle its debts – including the three AAA Company resorts –  either through further negotiation or sale of resort properties.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Sri Lanka’s US$10 million line of credit to build roads, relationships

A US$10 million line of credit for imported Sri Lankan goods has been established via Bank of Ceylon, President Mohamed Nasheed announced during his radio address yesterday morning.

The President said the agreement, which was signed by governments of Sri Lanka and the Maldives, will help those merchants importing goods from Sri Lanka, and reduce burdens caused by a shortage of foreign currency in the Maldives.

The President said that as part of the agreement, Sri Lanka will construct six   kilometer road in Addu City. This contribution will help the Maldivian government prepare for the SAARC Summit, to be held in Addu this year. The credit is also expected to finance additional high quality main roads in Feydhoo, Maradhoo and Maradhoo-Feydhoo of Addu City, the President reported.

President Nasheed said he is hopeful for improved mutual relations between the Maldives and Sri Lanka. Nasheed added that the Sri Lankan president has offered his full support in making the 2011 SAARC Summit successful.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Annual youth challenge fair opens

The annual ‘Youth Challenge Fair’ at Dharubaaruge (convention centre) was inaugurated by Education Minister Shifa Mohamed last night.

According to newspaper Haveeru, this year’s fair features 73 stalls by 52 parties, including local and national universities and companies. The fair will conclude on Saturday night.

Unlike previous years, the Human Resource Ministry said that the fair includes a campaign to train youth for employment.

Human Resource Minister Hassan Latheef said that O’ Level or A’ Level results were not enough to secure jobs for school leavers.

A loan programme was higher education recently initiated by the ministry only offered 35 opportunities, said Latheef, for which 1,135 students applied. “That is how competitive it is,” he said.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Business profit tax regulations published

Regulations under the Business Profit Tax Act, which came into force on July 18, 2011, have been published in the government gazette today.

A press statement by the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) today notes that a six-month period was given under article 42 of the Act to formulate important procedural rules and regulations.

The regulations specify rules for collecting taxes as well as conditions for tax exemptions.

The statement adds that an information guide was available on the MIRA website regarding the withholding tax applicable to Maldivians living overseas.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Public Accounts Committee to dismiss claims against governor

Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee has claimed that a motion of no-confidence against Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) governor Fazeel Najeeb is baseless.

Haveeru reported that four out of five members of a sub-committee tasked with evaluating the motion had claimed there was no reason for it to go ahead.

President Mohamed Nasheed had sent a letter to the parliament claiming that the MMA was not executing its legal responsibilities, and neither was its governor.

“We didn’t notice anything significant from [the letter] at all to justify a motion of no confidence against him,” a member of the committee told Haveeru.

The committee will review the report from the sub-committee and make a decision next week.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Release of 47 inmates proceeded “without complaint”, says State Home Minister

State Minister for Home Affairs Mohamed ‘Monaza’ Naeem has told Haveeru that the release of 47 inmates has proceeded “without complaint”, reports Haveeru.

The inmates are part of the government’s ‘Second Chance Programme’, which is sponsoring the rehabilitation and release of 400 inmates into society.

Naeem yesterday told the paper that the inmates are currently undergoing mentor training before entering the job market. This training follows a life skills programme and religious classes.

Inmates were selected for release according to their crime and behavior in jail. Naeem told Haveeru that those convicted of paedophilia, illegal drug trade, gang violence, or who have been offered clemency while in jail, were not included in the Second Change Programme.

Deputy Health Minister Lubna Mohamed Zahir Hussain told Haveeru that the second round of releases has not been scheduled yet.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

STO profits rise 79 percent in first half of 2011

The State Trading Organisation (STO) saw a 79 percent increase in profits in the first half of 2011. STO earned Rf39 million (US$2.5 million) more in the first half of 2011 than in the same period last year.

According to second quarter earnings published by the government company, STO made a half-year net profit of Rf88.4 million (US$5.7 million) this year.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Family of murder victim demand death penalty

The heirs of Mariyam Sheereen, who was found dead at a construction site in Male’ on January 2, 2010, have asked for the death penalty against the accused.

Under Islamic sharia, the victim’s family or heirs are given a choice to either insist on the death penalty, or to pardon the perpetrator and accept monetary compensation for their loss (Quran 2:178).

According to newspaper Haveeru, Sheereen’s heirs appeared in court yesterday and demanded the death penalty be enforced against Mohamed Najah, Sheereen’s former boyfriend.

Following the investigation, police revealed at the time that her body was put into a small suitcase and transported to a construction site by taxi cab.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)