Author: Minivan News

Ahmadhiyya School upgraded to international school

The Ahmadhiyya School in Malé has been upgraded to a private international school and rebranded ‘Ahmadhiyya International School.’

Principal Mohamed Rasheed told local media yesterday that the Ministry of Education has approved a request to upgrade the school.

While the school would follow the revised national curriculum next year, Rasheed said Arabic, Japanese, and Chinese language classes would be offered to students in addition to B-tech and home science subjects.

Despite the upgrade, Rasheed said school fees would only be raised by MVR200. The school currently charges a fee of MVR800 for secondary students.

Ahmadhiyya was the first private school established in the Maldives and would become the fifth international school in the country next year.

In recent years, students from Ahmadhiyya have been among top achievers in the O’ Level examinations.

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Criminal Court hears concluding statements for ‘Husseynube’ murder case

The Criminal Court yesterday concluded hearings in the ‘Husseynube’ murder trial, obtaining the concluding statements from both the Prosecutor General’s Office and the defendants.

Hussain Mohamed Manik – known by the islanders of Hoarafushi as ‘Husseynube’ – was a prominent businessman found dead inside an abandoned house in September 2010.

Ahmed Ibrahim, Mohamed Latheef, and Numan Abdulla were arrested in connection with the murder and charged with terrorism in September 2011.

The Prosecutor General’s Office accused the three of murdering 61 year-old Hussain Mohamed after taking him hostage and robbing him.

It was accused that the defendants stole more than MVR100,000 and US$1000 in cash from the victim.

According to local media present at the court yesterday, the prosecution said that the three  charged with the murder had confessed to police during the investigation, explaining how the incident had occurred.

The prosecutors noted that the information given by the suspects after the confession could only be known by a person involved in the murder. He also noted that their information had led to evidence that had been produced in court.

However, the defence lawyer told the court that police conduct during the investigation of the case was unlawful.

He said that any confession made outside of the court should be dismissed, to which the judge responded by saying that he would adhere to the clause in the constitution which states that confession made outside the court will be inadmissible.

Before concluding the hearing the judge announced that the case was to be concluded by the end of this month.

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NDA signs agreements with three rehab centres in India

The National Drug Agency (NDA) has signed agreements with three rehabilitation centres in India – two in Chennai and one in Bangalore – to provide treatment to Maldivian drug addicts.

At a press conference today, NDA board member Ali Shahid Mohamed noted the government was offering rehabilitation opportunities overseas for Maldivians for the first time.

Addicts could now apply to receive treatment at the Indian rehab centres, he said, adding that the cost would have to borne by the patients.

The selected centres provide a high quality of treatment with qualified counsellors and good facilities, he said.

Since it began hearing cases in August 2012, the Drug Court ordered 524 individuals to undergo rehabilitation as of April.

The Drug Court was formed under the new Drugs Act passed by parliament in December 2011 as part of a policy shift away from taking a punitive approach against small-scale drug offences.

Cases of drug users or pedlars caught with less than three grams of illicit narcotics were to be handled by the specialised court.

The NDA informed the Drug Court in April last year that all rehabilitation centres in the country were at full capacity.

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“The old posters fade, but we do not forget,” says Rilwan’s family

Family members and friends of missing Minivan News journalist Ahmed Rilwan have papered the walls of the Hulhumalé ferry terminal in Malé today (November 16) with new posters to mark 100 days since the journalist disappeared.

“The old posters fade, but we do not forget,” Rilwan’s sister Fathimath Shehenaz told reporters.

Rilwan was last seen on the Hulhumalé ferry in the early hours of August 8. He is believed to have been abducted at knifepoint at 2 am outside his apartment in Hulhumalé.

The posters of newspaper Haveeru’s August 22 front page carried the question ‘Was it Rilwan who was abducted in Hulhumalé?’ Family members and friends stenciled #PoliceMvFail over the posters.

“Today is the 100th day since he disappeared. But the state, the Maldives Police Services in particular, are yet to answer if it was Rilwan who was abducted in Hulhumalé,” Shehenaz said.

Police had arrested four people over the case in October. One suspect was held in police custody for five weeks, but the Criminal Court transferred him to house arrest this morning.

In a statement today, Rilwan’s mother Aminath Easa condemned the state’s failure to investigate her son’s disappearance and said, “the Maldivian state has failed to bring to justice the perpetrators of this heinous crime.”

“We do not believe the government has protected individuals right to life as per Article 21 of the constitution,” the statement continued.

Detailing the state’s failings in investigating the case, the statement noted:

  • The President of Maldives Abdulla Yameen has refused to comment on the case
  • There is no apparent progress in the Maldives Police Service’s investigation
  • The state has failed to investigate threats of violence and murder against journalists and non-governmental organisations who sought to uncover the truth behind the disappearance
  • Home Minister Umar Naseer’s contradictory statements on the case appear to show the state’s disregard for the case
  • The Majlis threw out a 5000 strong signature petition calling on the parliament to hold law enforcement agencies accountable

The state is obliged to investigate Rilwan’s disappearance and find him, the statement continued, arguing a family must not be reduced to begging the state’s institutions for answers.

“We, Rilwan’s family, will continue to remind the state of its responsibilities and will continue to do all we can to find him.”

Human rights NGO Maldivian Democracy Network released a report in September implicating radicalised gangs in Rilwan’s disappearance.

Discounting theories of voluntary disappearance and suicide, the investigation – conducted by Glasgow-based Athena Intelligence and Security – concludes the disappearance is likely to have been an abduction.

The report confirmed evidence of possible “hostile surveillance” at the terminal conducted by two known affiliates of Malé based Kuda Henveiru gang.

Former president and opposition leader Mohamed Nasheed in a tweet today said the police “are incapable of finding Rilwan because it has been taken hostage by gangs associated with ISIS [Islamic State in Iraq and Syria].”

Home Minister Umar Naseer has previously acknowledged involvement of criminal gangs in the case.

Rilwan’s family on October 29 accused the police of negligence and have filed a complaint with the Police Integrity Commission (PIC).

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Team of Malaysian businessmen arrive in Maldives

A team of Malaysian businessmen interested in investing in the Maldives through joint ventures with local businesses arrived in the country yesterday (November 15).

Maldivian High Commissioner to Malaysia Mohamed Fayaz told local media that the team includes 17 potential investors from the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Malaysia.

Fayaz said the businessmen had expressed interest in investing in guest house tourism, fisheries, construction, export and import, and real estate and would be meeting with the Maldivian Chamber of Commerce, the economic development minister and local businesses during their three-day visit.

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MDP criticises 2015 housing budget

The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has heavily criticised the proposed housing budget for the year 2015 for lacking clarity and new projects aimed at providing adequate housing.

While speaking at a press conference today, MDP housing committee chair and former environment and housing minister Mohamed Aslam said that the funds allotted towards housing projects for the upcoming year were for projects initiated by the MDP government elected in 2008.

The record MVR23.4 billion (US$ 1.58 billion) proposed budget – currently under discussion at the parliament’s budget committee – has MVR1.4 billion (US$90 million) allotted to the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure, of which MVR83 million (US$5.3 million) is recurrent expenditure.

The MDP housing committee noted issues in the 2015 budget such as the inclusion of a feasibility study of the proposed Malé-Hulhumalé bridge for the years 2015, 2016, and 2017.

The committee also brought up issues with a budgeted land reclamation project at Gaaf Dhaalu Thinadhoo, saying that the project has been ‘unnecessarily’ dragged on until 2017.

The land reclamation project in question has an allotted MVR9.8 million (US$635,000) for the years 2015 and 2016 while the actual MVR168 million (US$11 million) required for the land reclamation project has been delayed until 2017.

Previously, the MDP budget review committee described the overall 2015 budget as ‘aimless’ and as serving administrative purposes alone.

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Exports decline 48 percent in October, but revenue rises

The Maldives Customs Service has revealed that exports in October decreased by 48 percent compared to the same period last year.

While MVR131.3 million worth of goods were exported in October 2014 – compared to MVR251.3 million in October 2013 – revenue collected grew by 8 percent.

“The main reason for this reduction is largely due to the fact that export of frozen skipjack and frozen yellowfin tuna decreased by a large extent this October when compared to the same period last year,” reads a statement from customs.

“Total revenue collected during October 2014 has increased by 8% compared to the same period last year. A total of MVR170.8 million was collected as customs duty and other charges this October while this figure stood at MVR158.3 million for the same period last year.”

Imports meanwhile increased four percent in October compared to the same period last year.

“Looking at the distribution of imports in October 2014, fuel was the most imported item with a CIF [Cost, insurance, and freight] value of MVR625.7 million which accounts for 23% of the total imports for the period. This is followed by food items and machinery and electronics with CIF value of MVR508.1 million (19%) and MVR444.2 million (17%) respectively.”

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Police seek private party to conduct drug tests

Police are seeking an independent private party to conduct drug testing on urine samples taken from suspects.

An announcement by the National Drug Agency (NDA) explained that the Drug Act requires urine samples to be divided into two and for the second sample to be tested in a private laboratory.

The independent laboratory would be contracted for a five-year period.

The drug law stipulates that the private party would be assigned in accordance with regulations enacted by the NDA.

According to the NDA, the announcement seeking a private party is being made for a third time after no interested parties came forward following the first two announcements.

Under the landmark Drug Act, the NDA was designated the lead agency dealing with all issues related to drug prevention, harm reduction, and treatment.

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Court cancels hearing of suspects charged with terrorist attack on Gan police station

The Criminal Court has today cancelled scheduled hearings into the case against suspects charged with an arson attack on Addu City Gan Police Station on February 8, 2012.

The hearing was cancelled as the Prosecutor General’s Office was unable to summon the witnesses to court.

The suspects have been identified by the court as Ahmed Rasheed of Beachflat house in Maradhoo, Ali Rimaz of Liverpool house in Maradhoo, Hussein Zuhair of Heaven in Hithadhoo and Hassan Naeem of Sunshine in Hithadhoo.

In August 2012, terrorism charges were laid against over 40 individuals accused of setting the Seenu Gan police station on fire, including Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MP Mohamed Rasheed and Addu City Councillor Ahmed Mirzadh.

On 10 November 2014, eight police officers testified at the Criminal Court against the accused.

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