Category: News in Brief

Police launch search for stabbing suspect

The Maldives Police Service (MPS) has launched a search for an 18 year-old suspect allegedly involved in the stabbing of a 21 year-old man yesterday, reports local media.

The victim was stabbed with a sharp object at approximately 10:30pm Wednesday (August 21) on Maaveyo Goalhi (alley) in Male’. He suffered two stab wounds near the right shoulder, according to the MPS.

The victim is currently undergoing treatment at Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) in Male’.

Meanwhile , the MPS Serious and Organised Crime Department is investigating the case, and searching for 18-year-old Shifan Zufrath from Rozendale house in Male’s Henveiru ward.

Police have requested members of the public with information about Zufrath contact either the MPS hotline at 332-2111 or the MPS Fraud and Financial Crime Department at 991-1099.

The MPS said those who provide information to police about the suspect will be given due protection, according to local media.

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Thailand’s Princess Sirindhorn visits the Maldives

Thailand’s Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn arrived for an official visit to the Maldives today (August 22), reported local media.

The princess is scheduled to visit the National Museum during her trip. Today she met with President Mohamed Waheed and First Lady Ilham Hussain as well as other cabinet members, said the President’s Office.

Sirindhorn will remain in the Maldives until Friday (August 23).

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Dr Samad’s condition stable: Foreign Ministry

Foreign Minister Dr Abdul Samad Abdulla is now in a stable condition but remains in intensive care following a severe heart attack yesterday morning, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reported.

A statement from the the Indian Government expressed the deep concern the Minister of External Relations had for Dr Samad’s health. Mr Salman Khurshid has written to his Maldivian counterpart wishing him a “speedy recovery”.

Dr Samad, 67, was rushed to Singapore’s Mount Elizabeth hospital after becoming ill. He was reportedly in the country for kidney dialysis treatment.

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British media identify tourist drowned off Summer Island

British newspapers the Sun and the Daily Mail have identified the tourist killed at the Summer Island Village resort earlier this week as 34 year old Stuart Chance from Lincolnshire.

Mr Chance is reported to have travelled to the Maldives with his parents, who are regular visitors to the resort in Male’ Atoll. He is said to have drowned whilst snorkelling on Tuesday (August 20).

The Foreign Office is reportedly looking into Mr Chance’s death, though local police reportedly told Mr Chance’s family that his death was being treated as an accident.

Snorkelling incidents are the most common cause of tourist fatalities in the Maldives.

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Police charge six Maldivians, six Indians with smuggling drugs

Police have forwarded the names of six Maldivian and six Indian nationals to the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) in connection to the smuggling of nine kilograms of illegal drugs into the country in November 2012 on a cargo boat named Ms Silver Cloud.

In a statement issued today, the police identified the six Maldivians as Ali Imran, 45, of Mahchangolhi Coconut House; Ibrahim Shihab, 25, of Villingili; Ilyas Ahmed, 29, of Henveiru Kahafathi; Hassan Shimaz, 28, of Mahchangolhi Canovo House; Mohamed Hameed, 27, of Rathafandhoo in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll; and Ahmed Visam, 28, of Maafannu Boiling House.

The Indian nationals were identified as Sahubarali Abubaidha, 54; S.Mariya Anthony Christo, 27; Anthony Selvoraj, 58; D.Silva Paruthipan, 28; A. Kingston, 29; and M. Anantha Kurmar, 23.

The police stated that these men were apprehended on 27 November 2012 in a joint special operation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Department (DED) and the Customs Service.

According to the statement, they were alleged to have been caught in the act of throwing the drugs onto Boduthakurufaanu Magu over the Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) wall, with Maldivian men waiting on Boduthakurufaanu Magu to receive it.
Police said some of them were already leaving the area after receiving the drugs when police arrested them.

Those found on the boat were searched under a warrant, and police discovered 9kg of illegal drugs which tested positive to cannabis and diamorphin.

Police said that all the Maldivians arrested in connection with the case had previous records of theft and drugs recorded at police.

‘Silver Cloud 49’, is a vessel used to carry goods from India to the Maldives. In November last year it came to the Maldives to unload eggs, potatoes, and onions that were to be brought to the Maldives from Tuticorin port in India.
On November 28, 2012, police told the media that one of the six suspects was arrested on allegations that he was the ringleader responsible for trafficking illegal drugs into the Maldives.

Police said the man was arrested while he was inside a room at Kunnumalaage in Maafannu ward.

When police officers searched Kunnumalaage they discovered more than MVR1million, US$11,318, and EUR 39,725, as well as currencies of 11 other nations, police said.

Police at the time searched other houses in connection with the case including coconut House in Mahchangolhi Ward and Moonlight View in Galolhu Ward.

According to police, officers discovered a further MVR134,050, US$2,200, and tools used to pack drugs in Coconut House.

The police also released the video footage of the operation.

Deputy Police Commissioner Hussain Waheed at the time tweeted that the street value of the drugs discovered during the operation would reach over MVR 10million (US$648,000).

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Ibrahim ‘Sandhaanu’ Moosa Luthfee signs for PPM

Ibrahim ‘Sandhaanu’ Moosa Luthfee has signed up as a member of the government-aligned Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), currently led by former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.

Luthfee signed for the PPM last night after the party inaugurated a campaign post in Male’ with its election coalition partner, the Maldives Development Alliance (MDA), local media has reported.

Sun Online pictured Luthfee handing over his membership form in person to the former president after singing for the party.

Luthfee was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Gayoom administration for publishing an anti-government newspaper before fleeing the country in 2005 when he was taken to Sri Lanka for medical treatment.

He was granted clemency by Gayoom’s successor, former President Mohamed Nasheed.

Luthfee has since become an outspoken critic of Nasheed, accusing the former president of having “hijacked the system”, according to Sun Online.

In September 2012, Luthfee was appointed as an advisor to President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan after returning to the Maldives from self-imposed exile in Switzerland.

The government confirmed in May this year that he had been dismissed from the advisor role after failing to show up for work for a number of months after having taken leave.

President’s Office Media Secretary Masood Imad told Minivan News at the time that the decision had been taken to terminate Luthfee’s advisory role – stated in local media to be a salaried position with a monthly wage of MVR 32,000 (US$2,075) – after he was found not to have returned to work for a significant period of time.

Masood was unable to clarify if Luthfee had continued to receive wages during the period of leave, but expressed his personal belief that this would be unlikely.

“This is a bureaucratic issue and I think that it is normal to dismiss someone if they don’t come to work for four months or whatever,” he said. “In such a case, If I overstay my leave, I believe I would not be continued to be paid if I did not return to work. We haven’t been on top of this matter, but I’m sure payments would have been stopped through the bureaucratic system we have.”

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President Waheed to present National Awards in Male’ on August 22

The National Awards Committee has finalised its list of recipients who will receive accolades at a special ceremony being held at the Dharubaaruge conference centre in Male’ on Thursday (August 22).

Of this list, three recipients will be presented with the National Award of Honour during the event, while eleven other people have been selected to receive the National Award of Recognition, according to the President’s Office website.

President Dr Mohamed Waheed will also present a further 27 individuals with the National Award for Special Achievement during Thursday’s ceremony.

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Police search 2100 expats over Hulhumale’ rape without finding suspect

The police have told local media that, despite searching 2100 expats in a special operation launched to locate and apprehend the expatriates connected with the rape of a 19 year girl in Hulhumale’, no suspect has yet been found.

The incident occurred on Saturday August 3 at about 9:30am. The man allegedly snatched the girl from the street and raped her in some bushes near Reethi Gas Magu Road.

Police told local newspaper Haveeru that expats living on Hulhumale’, Thilafushi, and Male’ have been searched and that police haven’t been able to locate the suspect.

The operation is still on going.

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41 year old man arrested for molesting 12 year old

Police have arrested a 41 year old man in connection with a case in which a 12 year old minor was sexually abused in the island of Naavaidhoo in Haa Dhaalu Atoll.

The man was arrested while he was on Neykurandhoo Island in Haa Dhaalu Atoll.

Police said the man had previous records of homosexuality, child abuse, and assault.

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