Author: Minivan News

Police jeep crashes into house

A police jeep providing security for a State Electricity Company (STELCO) van collided with a motorbike and a car, swerved out of control and crashed into a wall this morning.

Sun Online reports that according to eyewitnesses the collision occurred when the car slid in between the police jeep and STELCO van.

Following the initial accident, the jeep backed into the STELCO entrance area and hit a parked motorbike on its way out. The jeep then lost control and crashed into the wall of a nearby house, which was reportedly not damaged.

While eyewitnesses claimed that the police jeep driver fainted upon impact, police have not confirmed any details as an investigation is ongoing.

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Man killed in Hulhumale traffic accident

A 41 year-old man died yesterday after his motorcycle collided with a truck in Hulhumale, reports Haveeru.

Ahmed Nasir, Managing Director of Vertical Constructions, died instantly on colliding with a vehicle belonging to the Housing Development Corporation (HDC). Another man who was riding on the back of the motorcycle, Managing Director of Ell Mobile Mohamed Sharath, suffered spinal injuries and is being flown to Sri Lanka for treatment, Haveeru reported.

Police are investigating the incident.

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Lease agreement revoked for five islands

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries last month revoked the lease agreements for five islands rented for economic or industrial purposes.

Haveeru reports that the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority’s (MIRA) recommendation to revoke the licenses was prompted by non-payment of rent and fines going back to 2005.

The islands include Shaviyani Ekasdhu (Rf12 million), Noonu Kalhaidhu (Rf8 million), Noonu Bandaidhihdhu (Rf9 million), Baa Maa Maduvvari (Rf5.9 million) and Gaaf Alif Fonahdhu (Rf1.7 million).

According to Haveeru, MIRA sent notices to Zuleyha Hafeez, Manager of Shaviyani Ekasdhoo, Moosa Naseer, Manager of Noonu Bandaidhihdhu, Noonu Kalhaidhu Manager Adam Naseer, Maduvvari Investment which manages Baa Maa Maduvvari and Abdulla Abdul Azeez who manages Gaaf Alif Fonahdhu.

An official from MIRA said that in addition to revoking licenses the owners would be sued for non-compliance with the lease agreements.

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MIRA recovers over Rf125 million owed to state

The Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) has recovered over Rf125 million (US$8.1 million) in outstanding debts owed to the state during its first year of operation.

Speaking at a ceremony last night to celebrate MIRA’s first anniversary, Commissioner General of Taxation Yazeed Mohamed said that recovering the outstanding debts was one of its main achievements in the past year as the institution had “given up hope” of collecting the money.

Yazeed said that MIRA was able to recover Rf125 million from debts that it was prepared to write off due to the “sincere efforts of the enforcement team,” according to local media reports.

MIRA has filed 11 cases at court to recover unpaid rents and fines, said Yazeed, three of which were ongoing while an additional two cases have been settled out of court.

An audit report of the former department of inland revenue released in October 2009 revealed that it had failed to collect over Rf1.1 billion (US$85 million) in unpaid taxes, resort rent and fines.

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New Maldives Constitution turns three

The new constitution currently in force, ratified on August 7, 2008, turns three years old today.

The Special Majlis that formulated the constitution was convened on July 19, 2004 by former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom as part of a sweeping agenda for democratic reform, which was unveiled on June 9, 2004 in response to growing demands for civil and political rights.

The old constitution – which did not allow political parties or feature separation of powers, term limits or an independent judiciary – was ratified in 1998 after a drafting process lasting 17 years.

Meanwhile today marks 1000 days in power for President Mohamed Nasheed, who was sworn in on November 11, 2008 following the country’s first multi-party democratic presidential election.

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20 inmates disqualified from release programme

Twenty inmates have been disqualified from the government’s release programme after testing positive for drug use, Home Minister Hassan Afeef told state broadcaster MNBC One today.

Afeef explained that as most inmates in the country’s prisons were incarcerated for drug use, convicts chosen for release were subject to drug tests during their evaluation and interviewing process.

The list of inmates to be released has now been finalised, said Afeef.

On Independence Day, July 26, President Mohamed Nasheed announced that close to 400 convicts would be offered “a second chance” and released under a national rehabilitation programme.

The convicts are to be released on condition that they do not commit any offence in a three-year period along with compulsory participation in rehabilitation or training programmes.

Afeef explained that job placements had been secured for the convicts at government companies, while a mentor will be assigned to each released inmate to supervise their reintegration into society.

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Sri Lankan fishing vessels allowed to cross Maldivian waters

A new agreement between the Maldives and Sri Lanka will allow Sri Lankan fishing vessels to cross Maldivian territorial waters enroute to the Arabian Sea, Sri Lanka’s Daily Mirror reported.

The fishermen have been taking a detour to avoid entering Maldivian waters, but the new agreement will allow them through passage with advance notice given to the Sri Lankan diplomatic authorities in the Maldives.

Vessels found poaching in Maldivian waters would be prosecuted, Sri Lanka’s Ministry of External Affairs was reported as stating in the Mirror.

The Maldives has also released seven Sri Lankan trawlers taken into custody on suspection of poaching in Maldivian waters.

Local news outlet Sun Online meanwhile reported the head of the DRP’s fishermen’s branch Ali Solih as saying that the deal was “an insult to Maldivian fisherman” and “a dangerous deal”, as the Maldives did not have the capacity to monitor illegal fishing.

The Mirror also reported that Sri Lanka’s External Affairs Neomal Perera had arranged for the repatriation of a Sri Lankan woman accused of killing her husband, after she attempted suicide while in custody.

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Police arrest man on suspicion of brewing alcohol

Police have arrested a 22 year-old man on suspicion of brewing alcohol, reports Haveeru.

Ibrahim Ali was arrested in the woods of Thuraakunu on Haa Alif Atoll on Thursday evening, in possession of a kerosene stove, equipment used to brew alcohol and 20 litres of suspected ingredients.

Police are continuing to investigate the matter.

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JSC invites applicants for superior court benches under revised criteria

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has reopened applications for judges and magistrates to superior courts after revising its criteria on requisite experience.

The commission however noted that interested candidates who applied in response to the announcement on July 6 would not have to submit new applications.

The JSC is seeking two judges each for the Civil Court and Criminal Court and three judges for the Family Court.

Application forms are available from the commission’s website.

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