Category: News in Brief

Police confirm body of Azerbaijan national found on Kurumba resort

The Maldives Police Service (MPS) has confirmed an investigation is ongoing into the death of a 27 year-old male from Azerbaijan, whose body was discovered at the Kurumba Maldives resort near to the capital of Male’ on Thursday (July 25).

A police media official confirmed to Minivan News that the body of Tural Gurbanov had been discovered on the resort Thursday – though the cause of his death was unknown at time of press.

Local media has previously reported that the deceased was believed to have been a tourist whose body was discovered in one of the resort’s rooms on Thursday morning.

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High Court upholds injunction preventing Haveeru sale

The High Court has upheld a Civil Court injunction preventing the sale of Haveeru, the Maldives’ largest print and online newspaper.

In a ruling issued Thursday (July 25), Sun Online reported that the High Court upheld an injunction on selling the paper until hearings were concluded into a dispute over an alleged failure by Haveeru Chairman Mohamed Zahir Hussain to pay an agreed share of the publication’s profit to two other individuals dating back to 1983.

Local media reported that the High Court ruled no sale of Haveeru could be permitted until questions over the publication’s ownership were resolved by the Civil Court.

Minivan News understands that Haveeru has been placed for sale by its chairman and was soliciting bidders in May this year.

The Maldives’ second oldest newspaper, Miadhu News, and its assets were meanwhile bought in April by presidential candidate and Jumhoree Party (JP) Leader, MP Gasim Ibrahim.

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Haveeru interviews fornication flogger Abdul Khalig

“Some may perceive a man who day in day out is tasked with whipping his fellows to be remorseless or even sadistic. However, Khalig, to the contrary is quite warm and extremely friendly,” writes Niumathullah Idhurees and Mohamed Visham for local newspaper Haveeru.

“He can be seen addressing the victims at the end of his whip outside of the courtroom with empathy even though he is at most times at the receiving end of verbal abuse and threats. His response to such abuse and threats is always a warm smile. For him, it is nothing new. For him, it’s just a job.

“‘It has to be done in a certain way. I was taught by judges and various other people before I was given this job. I see this job as a blessing. There aren’t many who want to do this job,’ the 33-year-old Khalig, who assumed his job in 2010, told Haveeru.

“According to his memory, Khalig has enforced flogging sentences of over 300 people which amounts to thousands of lashes with his leather whip.”

Read more

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Elections Commission to draw lots to determine candidate order on ballot paper

The Elections Commission (EC) has confirmed lots will be drawn next Sunday (July 28) to determine the order presidential candidates’ names will appear on voter ballots, unless a case questioning a candidates’ legitimacy is filed with the Supreme Court, reports local media.

The deadline for presidential-hopefuls to file their candidacy was 2:00pm yesterday (July 24) EC President Fuwad Thowfeek told local media.

There is a five day window, beginning the day a candidate registers with the EC, that cases regarding the legitimacy of a presidential candidate can be filed with the Supreme Court, according to local media.

The five day period has passed for cases to be filed against Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) former president and current presidential candidate Mohamed Nasheed as well as President Mohamed Waheed, who is contesting as an independent, according to Sun Online.

However, cases can still be submitted to the Supreme Court against Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) MP and presidential candidate Abdulla Yameen, as well as resort tycoon and Leader of the Jumhoree Party (JP) Gasim Ibrahim, as they filed their candidacies with the EC Monday (July 22).

Assuming no cases are filed with the Supreme Court, lots will be drawn Sunday to determine the order presidential candidates’ names will appear on voter ballots, said Thowfeek.

In the event a case is filed against a presidential candidate, the Supreme Court must issue a verdict within seven days, according to CNM.

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Indian Joint Secretary of External Affairs visits Maldives, meets President, political leaders, ministers

An inter-ministerial delegation from India led by Joint Secretary in Ministry of External Affairs Harsh Vardhan Shringla visited the Maldives from July 23-24 to meet with political leaders ahead of the upcoming elections.

According to a statement from the High Commission in Male, Shringla called on President Mohamed Waheed and “highlighted the close, friendly and long standing bilateral relations between India and the Maldives. Mr Shringla also held meetings with the other presidential candidates – former President Mohamed Nasheed, PPM presidential candidate Abdulla Yameen and JP presidential candidate Gasim Ibrahim.

“He emphasised to all concerned the importance of conducting free, fair, credible and inclusive elections in a peaceful environment followed by a smooth transfer of power. He conveyed India’s commitment to supporting the institutions of democracy in the Maldives and its desire to see a peaceful, stable and prosperous Maldives.”

During the visit Shringla called on Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Ahmed Samad Abdullah “to exchange views on the various aspects of the bilateral relationship”, and Attorney General Azima Shakoor.

Shringla also met with Minister of Defence and Security, Mohamed Nazim, “to discuss India’s increasing engagement with the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), including training of officials to supply of equipment. They signed an agreement on cooperation between the two countries on various defence projects.”

“As part of his visit, Mr.Shringla paid a visit to Indian ship ‘INS Sukanya’, which was visiting Maldives to conduct a joint patrol operation with the MNDF aimed at monitoring and protecting the Maldives Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ),” the statement concluded.

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Elections Commission announces earlier voting times to minimise possible disturbances

The Elections Commission (EC) has announced that voting in the presidential election on September 7 will begin at 7:30am and close at 4:00pm to minimise possible disturbances, reports local media.

EC President Fuwad Thowfeek told local media that the voting times were decided based on past experiences and police advice.

“Police gave that advice from the time of the parliamentary elections. They advised us to conduct voting at the earliest possible hours,” Thowfeek told CNM.

The EC has noted most disturbances occur after sunset and early voting was also the procedure followed during the by-elections, he added.

Previously, people lined up at 7:30am and had to wait since the polls opened at 8:00am, said Thowfeek

“So when we shift the opening time to 7:30am, they can vote early. This will prevent crowding,” he explained.

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Brother of Vice Presidential candidate Ahmed Thasmeen Ali arrested while under the influence

The brother of President Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik’s running mate Ahmed Thasmeen Ali, Mohamed Adil, was arrested yesterday while under the influence, reports local media.

Adil, also a director at One & Only Reethi Rah Resort, was arrested at Ibrahim Nasir National Airport upon his arrival from overseas, according to CNM. He was arrested “after his behavior gave away that he was high”.

Police told local media they “arrested a 37-year-old Maldivian from the airport VIP lounge who was intoxicated” at approximately 4:30pm Tuesday (July 23).

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Environment Minister announces airport seawater cooling plans

Environment Minister Dr Mariyam Shakeela has announced plans to develop a cooling system at Ibrahim Nasir International Airport (INIA) that will make use of seawater to reduce reliance on fossil fuels at the site, according to local media.

“We can try to create energy with seawater and use it to cool places. We are looking to cool the entire airport using water taken from around 1,000 metres below the surface of the sea in the near future,” she was quoted as saying by local newspaper Haveeru during a ceremony held yesterday (July 23).

Speaking at the event, Dr Shakeela reportedly highlighted the importance of enhancing the use of renewable energy in the Maldives, while also identifying a lack of “positive response” from state institutions in curbing use of fossil fuels or adopting alternative technologies like solar and wind energy.

The announcement was made after participants in attendance at the Maldives International Renewable Energy Investors Conference last month claimed political instability was presently a major concern hampering foreign investment in the sector.

The two day event, which concluded on June 17, aimed to facilitate long-term partnerships between international investors, project developers, energy companies and utilities groups in order to enable successful renewable energy projects throughout the Maldives.

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