Category: News in Brief

Dismissed Attorney General “not a team player,” says PPM MP Mahloof

Attorney General Azima Shukoor dismissed by parliament in a no-confidence vote yesterday (October 29) was “not a team player,” Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) MP Ahmed Mahloof told local media yesterday.

“Azima is not a team player, she prioritises her own interests over the interests of the team. The letter sent to the parliament regarding the procedure to be followed if a president is not elected by 11 November, was also based on her own advice. The matter was not discussed,” Mahloof told Sun Online.

The no-confidence motion submitted by the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) was passed with 41 votes in favour and five against. The MDP’s 33 MPs were joined by MPs of the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party and Independent MP for Raa Dhuvafaru Mohamed Zubair.

MP Mahloof was the only PPM MP who participated in the vote while MPs of the government-aligned Jumhooree Party along with Independent MP Mohamed ‘Kutti’ Nasheed voted against the motion.

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More than MVR500,000 stolen from Faafu atoll council safe

Police are investigating the theft of more than MVR500,000 from the safe at the Faafu atoll council office in Nilandhoo today.

The robbery was reported to police at 7:56am this morning, according to police media. The thieves are believed to have broken the safe after entering the atoll council office through a window.

Police are currently trying to locate a suspect while investigation and forensic teams from the Nilandhoo and Dhaal Kudahuvadhoo police stations are active in the island.

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Maradhoo magistrate court declares alive voter considered deceased by Supreme Court

The magistrate court in the Maradhoo ward of Addu City has declared living a voter considered deceased by the Supreme Court in its judgment annulling the September 7 presidential election.

According to local media reports, the magistrate court made an announcement yesterday (October 30) after Mohamed Ahmed, of Muskuraanage, filed a complaint.

The Maradhoo resident was among three names provided as examples by Elections Commission (EC) Chair Fuwad Thowfeek of voters falsely deemed dead by the apex court.

Speaking to Maldives Broadcasting Corporation’s Raajje Miadhu (Maldives Today) programme this week, Thowfeek said the commission had discovered that at least four of the eighteen people deemed to be dead in the Supreme Court verdict were in fact alive.

In addition to Ahmed Mohamed, the EC had found that Ahmed Naseem from Male’, Fathmath Didi of Addu Atoll Hithadhoo Island and Khadeeja Gasim of Laamu Atoll Fonadhoo Island were alive.

“Like this, many people who are alive and had voted have been deemed by the Supreme court as votes cast by dead people, and based on that, they have annulled the election,” Fuwad said.

The EC and the Human Rights Commission have criticised the evidence used by the Supreme Court to annul the vote.

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Suspect in Afrasheem murder case transferred to house arrest

The Criminal Court has reportedly transferred Azleef Rauf, a former Maldives National Defence Force officer suspected of involvement in the murder of MP Afrasheem Ali in October 2012, to house arrest.

In May this year, Rauf was detained on charges of terrorism, extortion, and involvement in criminal gang activities, after which the court extended his remand detention.

While a case against Rauf over alleged involvement in the murder of the moderate religious scholar was sent to the Prosecutor General’s Office in September, the case has yet to be filed at court.

Rauf is also facing separate charges of extortion, theft, and damaging public property along with former Judicial Service Commission member Mohamed ‘Reynis’ Saleem.

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Police seize 48 bottles of alcohol

Police have seized 48 bottles and four packets of alcohol from a dhoni (traditional boat) docked in the Male’ harbour and arrested three individuals last night.

According to police media, the suspects taken into custody were a Maldivian male aged 41 and two foreigners aged 33. The arrests were made following a tip-off to the police Drug Enforcement Department (DED).

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Foreign Ministry condemns attack on Indian High Commissioner’s car

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned the vandalism of the Indian High Commissioner’s car on Monday night (October 28).

“The Ministry is deeply concerned that a diplomatic vehicle was subjected to vandalism. The Maldives Police Service is currently investigating the case and the perpetrators will be brought to justice,” read the statement.

“The Ministry wishes to call on all members of the public to refrain from activities that might undermine the close friendly relations that exist between Maldives and its close and friendly neighbours,” the ministry said in a statement yesterday (October 29).”

The Maldivian Democratic Party have also released a statement today, calling for the safety of Indian diplomats to be assured.

“After months of hate mongering targeting Indian officials, it is deeply saddening to see such regrettable incidents against our Indian friends. Maldives and India share an invaluable friendship and we must continue to strengthen our relationship through dialogue, not through intimidation and violence”

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Parliament appoints retired first lieutenant as sergeant-at-arms

Parliament today appointed Mohamed Haleem, of Maafanu Million in Male’, as the People’s Majlis’ Sergeant-at-arms with 56 votes in favour and one against.

Under the parliamentary rules of procedure, the Sergeant-at-arms is entrusted with enforcing discipline and maintaining security.

According to newspaper Haveeru, First Lieutenant Haleem retired from the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) last month after 23 years of service.

Haleem was among senior military officers who sent a letter of concern to the Chief of Defence Forces following the failure to hold the second round of the presidential election scheduled for September 28.

Minivan News obtained Haleem’s resignation letter addressed to Defence Minister Mohamed Nazim, in which he stated that he did not believe “the security services are currently adhering to the constitutional provisions stated in articles 237 and 238.”

“Also, while the spirit of article 246 of the constitution is, to refrain from political affiliations and to treat equally among the people and different groups, respecting the principles of Islam and human dignity, I do not see this currently happening [within the security services],” First Lieutenant Haleem stated.

“For the last 23 years [of my military service]; I have served this country under a solemn oath taken in the name of Allah, I do not see any way that I can carry out my duties as prescribed in the constitution and the military act, while in this position, therefore I request you to relieve me from my duties,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, in July 2011, Independent MP Mohamed ‘Kutti’ Nasheed called for the appointment of a Sergeant-at-arms as provided for in the regulations following weeks of disrupted sittings.

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Surf rage sees wave permits in paradise introduced: Sydney Morning Herald

“An Australian surf travel operator has introduced a “pass” system to restrict the number of surfers at one of the world’s great left-hand breaks, Lohis, in the Maldives,” writes Robert Upe for the Sydney Morning Herald.

“Only 35 passes will be handed out daily to try to control the crowds that have caused ‘chaos’, according to managing director of World Surfaris, Shaun Levings.

The congestion has resulted in heated exchanges at the reef break, opposite Hudhuranfushi Resort that has about 200 rooms and lists surfing among its activities.

‘The surfing population around the world has almost reached epidemic proportions because it is seen as ubercool to surf,’ Levings said.

‘A lot of the new surfers who don’t know the etiquette of the sport are booking themselves into international (surf) locations with reef breaks. But they aren’t experienced enough to surf them and they don’t follow the rules of surfing. Eventually, the experienced mellow surfers lose their cool.’

‘Surfing is meant to be for relaxation but (with the crowds) it becomes an arena where you are competing for waves. The whole vibe changes.’ ”

Read more

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Four minors arrested with stolen items in Gemanafushi Island

Four minors have been arrested on the island of Gemanafushi in Gaafu Alifu Atoll with stolen items.

Police said that the stolen items were found inside one of the minor’s house.

According to police, they allegedly stole a sound system, CD player, one diving torch, as well as the batteries, charger and bulbs for the torch.

Police said the four minors were aged  between 15 and 16.

Gemanafushi police station is investigating the case.

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