Category: Society & Culture

Police arrest Chief Superintendent for helping compile Ameen-Aslam ‘coup report’

Additional reporting by Ahmed Naish

Police have arrested former head of police intelligence, Chief Superintendent Mohamed Hameed, following his contribution to the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s report (Dhivehi) into the controversial transfer of power on February 7.

Reports surfaced yesterday that police officers who had cooperated with the report were being rounded up and detained, and their houses searched. A group of protesters had gathered outside police headquarters this morning.

Police initially denied the allegations of a “witch hunt” and issued a statement accusing the media of “circulating baseless and false reports”. However court warrants for the arrest of Hameed and Staff Sergeant Ahmed Naseer were subsequently leaked.

Hameed was taken into custody this morning and transferred to the detention centre on Dhoonidhoo, ahead of a court hearing this afternoon. Naseer and a third, lower-ranking officer are also believed to be in Dhoonidhoo.

During the court hearing the Criminal Court extended Hameed’s detention to five days. The Chief Superintendent was led out the back door of the court away from the crowds of MDP protesters who had gathered outside. Riot police pushed the crowds back to the STO Trading centre.

The Criminal Court arrest warrant stated that Hameed is accused of “misusing” or leaking information acquired through his position for “the political gain of a particular group” and participating in the compilation of the “misleading” Ameen-Aslam report, which undermines “the public’s respect for the security services.”

It justified his detention on the grounds that Hameed might influence witnesses and attempt to get rid of evidence as “others are suspected of involvement in the case.”

The evidence submitted to obtain the court warrant stated that a draft of the report with recommended changes was found in Hameed’s gmail account, and messages were found that suggested Hameed was consulted prior to the release of the report.

The family of Chief Superintendent Hameed expressed concern over his detention and noted that he was widely respected in the force as “a man of principle”. He has been in the service for over 17 years and has a masters in policing, intelligence and counter-terrorism.

Following the raid and extrajudicial dismantling of the MDP’s protest site at Usfasgandu on May 29, Hameed tweeted: ” Called a ‘baaghee’ [traitor] on the road twice today. Rightly so when our own actions are unjustifiable and thuggery like!”

Police issued a statement this afternoon confirming that Hameed had been arrested on charges of leaking “important information collected by the Maldives Police Services intelligence related to national security” as well as providing “untrue and false information” intended to benefit a specific [political] party, which could pose a threat to national security and create “divisions between the police and the public.” Hameed’s actions were in violation of the Police Act, the statement insisted.

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ACC forwards five corruption cases for prosecution

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has forwarded five cases for prosecution in recent weeks after concluding investigations into complaints lodged at the commission dating back to 2009.

The cases sent for prosecution involves corrupt practices at the Gaaf Dhaal Atoll Council and Gaaf Dhaal Thinadhoo office as well as abuse of authority by former councillors of Laamu Maavah and Seenu Hithadhoo and former Housing Ministry Director Ibrahim Fayaz.

In the first case, the ACC found that the Gaaf Dhaal Atoll Council purchased furniture worth Rf54,200 from a shop in Male’ without a public announcement or bidding process.

Regulations under the Public Finance Act stipulates all procurement in excess of Rf25,000 to be made after a public announcement.

The ACC therefore recommend the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) to charge Chair of the Gaaf Dhaal Atoll Council Mohamed Nizam, Deputy Chair Shahir Hassan, Atoll Councillor Mohamed Muhthar and Abdulla Shiyaz with abuse of authority for financial gain to a third party.

The second complaint investigated by the ACC concerned fraudulent valuation of five proposal to provide security to the Gaaf Dhaal Thinadhoo office in January 2011, which resulted in the bid being awarded to the party that did not submit the lowest price.

The ACC found that members of the bid evaluation committee – Adam Shareef, Nasrullah Afeef, Mohamed Abdulla and Saudhullah Ali – abused their authority to secure financial gain to the winner of the bid, ARDK Investments.

While the public announcement did not state that marks would be awarded for experience, the ACC found that the bid was awarded to ARDK on the basis of having more experience than the other four interested parties.

The third complaint meanwhile involved a monthly allowance of Rf2,000 provided to an employee at the Laamu Maavah powerhouse from April to May 2009 by former councillor Waleed Zakariyya without the approval of either the island development committee or government officials.

The ACC investigators determined that Waleed Zakariyya’s claim that the employee performed additional tasks during the period could not be proved.

The ACC therefore recommended that Zakariyya be charged for abuse of authority under article 12(a) of the Anti-Corruption Act as he was found to have made the decision on his own. In addition, the ACC informed the PGO on May 29 to recover the Rf4,000 lost from public funds.

Prior to the formation of local councils following elections in February 2011, island councillors were appointed by President Mohamed Nasheed.

In the fourth case, the ACC found that former councillor of Seenu Hithadhoo, Mohamed Shamin Ali, awarded a contract worth Rf189,393.75 to construct a check-post in the island after the island development committee decided to postpone the project due to financial difficulties.

The ACC noted that the check-post was used by police for a short period and has since deteriorated beyond use. The ACC recommended the former councillor be charged with abuse of authority for financial gain to a third party.

The last case meanwhile involves abuse of authority by Housing Ministry Director Ibrahim Fayaz, who was in charge of the Dharubaaruge convention centre.

Fayaz was found to have cancelled an advance booking by private broadcaster DhiTV to lease the Rannabadeyri hall to telecast a debate between candidates for the president and vice-president of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) on April 26, 2011.

The ACC discovered that Fayaz cancelled DhiTV’s booking and leased the hall to MDP-aligned Raajje TV. The booking was cancelled after DhiTV advertised the event and completed preparations to telecast the debate.

The ACC investigators determined that Fayaz’s claim that he cancelled the booking after informing DhiTV to make the full payment a day ahead of the event could not be established from either documentation or witness statements.

The ACC recommended that Fayaz be charged with abuse of authority under articles 12(a) and 23 of the Anti-Corruption Act.

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Delays slow implementation of public sex offenders registry

Almost one in seven children of secondary school age in the Maldives have been sexually abused at some time in their lives, according to an unpublished 2009 study on violence against children.

Gut-wrenching details of heinous child sexual abuse cases grabbing headlines in the past few years eventually gathered enough public pressure in the Maldive  for the  authorities to pass a law stipulating stringent punishments for sexual predators.

Since the passage of “Stringent Punishments for Perpetrators of Sexual Violence Against Children Act’ in 2009, several pedophiles have been incarcerated for 10 to 20 years of life.

According to Prosecutor General Office (PGO), 46 cases of sexually abusing a minor were submitted to the courts in 2011. In 2010, 35 cases were submitted. The year before, 41 cases.

Some high profile cases make headlines but often cases go under-reported. With no public statistics on the number of incarcerations, the total figures on how many cases are successfully prosecuted and who has been put behind bars are unknown.

Yet, more cases are being reported and investigated.

In 2010, the magistrate court on Ungoofaaru island alone convicted eight people in relation to 10 different child abuse cases from Raa Atoll. Among them were fathers who raped their daughters, a mother who hid her husband’s sexually deviant crimes,  and men who abused little boys no older than 10.

Do you know who they are? No – but it is definitely your legal right to know.

Article 77 of the aforementioned legislation not only obligates the authorities to publicise  the identity of the offenders convicted under the law, but also tells the authorities to create a website through which the can public know who the sexual offenders are.

Were the system stated in law to be established, people can even retrieve information on sex offenders by sending a text. Almost four year after the law has been passed, the Gender Department says the system “is still under maintenance.”

According to Police Sergeant Abdul Jaleel fromt the police Family and Children Protection Department (FCPD), discussions are underway between the authorities to create the database of offenders. He admitted, “the delays are unfortunate and we need to make it a priority issue.”

Stressing on the importance of such a database, Jaleed recalled an incident in Meemu Atoll where a man who had a record of child abuse was found to have committed the same crime against another child.

“This man was banished to an island onto an island in Meemu Atoll. When we were investigating a child abuse case in 2009, we found that this man was responsible and he even had a previous record of abusing children.” Jaleel noted. “But the islanders did not know that.”

He noted that the dispersion of the 300,000-strong population over 190 islands made it easier for perpetrators to switch islands, and blend in among people unaware of their crimes.

“Therefore, a central website where sex offenders can be tracked, monitored and public can find about the convicted offenders is crucial to safeguard children and adults from such perpetrators.” Sergeant Jaleel observed.

“It would also definitely expedite our investigations with better coordination between authorities on different islands.”

Several countries worldwide have adopted such measures.

For example, the National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW) in the US, provides not only an opportunity for several states  to participate in an unprecedented public safety resource by sharing public sex offender data nationwide, but provides a platform for parents and authorities to collaborate for the safety of both adults and children.

However, often arguments are taken against such public registries as it may be defamatory and makes life difficult for a person identified as a “sexual predator”.

Jaleel agreed that the idea of a public sex offenders registry is new to the Maldives and may face similar challenges.

However, he argued that legislation can be made clarifying who can be included or not depending on the magnitude of the crime. “If we look at domestic violence cases, the perpetrator’s name can be avoided depending on whether it was first offence or the matter is solved if its between a couple.”

“But in heinous crimes such as sexually abusing a child, there should be no excuses,” he contended. “And repeat offenders must be made public too.”

He also said provisions can be made whereby police or authorities can decide to release a name of a person not convicted for the sexual offence, should they have reason and substantial evidence to believe the person is a threat to society.

Aishath Ibrahim, the mother of a five year old working as a teacher in Male’ says, “It will be very easy for parents to identify potential threats and protect our children if we can know who the offenders are.”

“Today we don’t even know who is our neighbor,” she added.

In the crowded capital Male’, people live closely together in rented housing or shared apartments within large family units, a factor that has been identified as contributing to instances of child sexual abuse.

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Maldivian dies in Sri Lanka after falling off from 18 storey hotel

A Maldivian man died in Sri Lanka on Wednesday night after falling off from the 18th floor of the Jaik Hilton Hotel.

Local media identified the victim as Mohamed Midhushah, 37, who traveled to the country on May 12.

According to local news website Sun Online, Sri Lankan police have decided to conduct a post mortem to find the cause of death.

The officials of the hotel said the incident took place around 3:45am in the morning.

The hotel officials also said that Midhushah had fallen into the compound area of the hotel, and that the Slave Island Police station was investigating the matter.

In an interview given to the website, Inspector Ariya Singha from the Slave Island Police station said that at the time of the incident there were nine other people in the apartment including three foreign women: one from Madagascar and two from Sri Lanka.

The inspector also said that police had found a lot of alcohol bottles in the apartment, and that the occupants had been partying when the incident occurred.

He also said that according to the suspects, the incident was believed to have happened after Midhushah went to the balcony for a smoke.

“Witnesses said Midhushah went to the balcony only with a cigarette. They had been partying until it was very late. We found bottles of alcohol inside the premises,” he said.

He also said that the people on the balcony only found out what had happened after they noticed that he was not inside the apartment, and while searching for him they saw lot of people gathered in front of the hotel where they found Midhushah lying on the ground.

Inspector Singha said that Midhushah was dead when he was taken to the hospital, and that the Colombo National Hospital had confirmed his death upon arrival to the hospital.

He further added that the case is being investigated and preparations are underway to conduct a post mortem in the presence of the deceased’s family.

According to the media, Midhushah’s family had already flown to Colombo for the post mortem.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also confirmed of a death of a Maldivian abroad but refused to reveal any further details.

Minivan News was unable to contact the family of the deceased.

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Fifth suspect arrested in connection with the murder of Arham

Police have arrested a fifth person involved in the murder of 16 year-old Mohamed Arham, who was killed in ‘Lorenzo Park’ last month.

Police today said that an 18 year-old man was arrested this afternoon in connection with the case, at about 2:15pm.

No details of the man were disclosed to the media.

Recently, police arrested four men allegedly involved in the murder and said the death was related to a gang war and not political.

Deputy Head of Police Serious and Organised Crime, Dhaudh Mohamed, previously said that 16 year-old Mohamed Arham was killed in a revenge attack in an argument that night between two gangs.

Dhaudh said that the police investigation had found out that Arham had a close relationship with the gang, who were based in the park in which he was found dead. The victim had no previous criminal record, although he used to visit the park frequently, police stated.

The hearing into the murder of Abdul Mueeth ‘Bobby’, 21, was also scheduled for today at the Criminal Court but was later cancelled as the accused three men, Muhujath Ahmed Naseeh, Mohamed Maimoon and Ali Mushaf had not appointed lawyers.

According to local newspapers, at today’s hearing the judge told the state attorney that in cases of this type the accused can only respond to the charges with a lawyer.

Ali Mushaf today complained to the judge that he was restricted from basic rights such as the opportunity to make phone calls while under pre-trial detention.

On February 19, Abdul Muheeth of G. Veyru, was rushed to Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) after he was stabbed at 1:45am near the Finance Ministry building. He later died during treatment.

The family of Muheeth have said that he was waiting outside his house for a friend after finishing a family dinner.

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Quran teacher stopped teaching my daughter after MDP Coup Report, says Police Asst Commissioner

A female Quran teacher has refused to teach the 10 year-old daughter of Police Assistant Commissioner Hassan Habeeb, following the publication of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s report into controversial transfer of power on February 7.

Speaking to Minivan News today, Assistant Commissioner Habeeb said that when his wife went to fetch their daughter from the Quran class, the teacher told her: ‘’We are not supporters of the coalition.’’

‘’My wife at first did not quite get what she said and asked her what she meant by that. The Quran teacher replied that she had stopped teaching the Quran to the children of police and Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) officers, as she had seen and read what they had done on February 7,’’ Habeeb said.

He said when he and his wife talked to their daughter about it, they learned that the Quran teacher had not been teaching her daughter since the release of the MDP’s report.

‘’We knew from our daughter that the Quran teacher has been talking politics in the class,’’ he added.

Habeeb said he was “very saddened” by the incident and appealed to every one not to put politics in the way of such services.

‘’I have information that some doctors have also being differentiating among people of different political views, and it is very concerning,’’ he said. ‘’If this continues, this citizens will be split into groups.’’

He said this was a serious issue and it must be attended to immediately.

‘’Police and MNDF officers do not have any political views and we treat everyone equally, so people should not take us politically,’’ he added.

Minivan News was unable to contact the Quran teacher.

However she told newspaper Haveeru that the matter was her own personal business, and that she had stopped teaching Quran to not just one child.

According to the MDP’s report, then-Chief Superintendent Hassan Habeeb (now Assistant Commissioner), Assistant Commissioner Hussein Waheed, Chief Superintendent Abdulla Fairoosh, Chief Superintendent Ahmed Saudhy, Chief Inspector Abdul Mannan Yousuf, Inspector Mohamed Dhaudh, Superintendent Ahmed ‘two four’ Mohamed, Superintendent Mohamed Jamsheed, Sub-Inspector Azeem Waheed and SO Inspector Shameem were among the senior police officers who  pledged alliance to the then-opposition and facilitated the police mutiny.

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Three police and an MNDF officer arrested for robbing expatriate workers

Police have arrested three police officers and a Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) officer after they allegedly robbed a large amount of cash from expatriate workers in a house near the State Bank of India (SBI) in Male’s Heniveru ward.

Newspaper Haveeru reported that one police officer was a member of the police investigations team, while another was a Special Operations (SO) officer.

Haveeru reported that the men entered the house and attacked and threatened the expatriate workers on Friday night around 9:00pm.

Two of the police officers were in uniform during the incident, according to Haveeru.

The paper reported that two police officers met one of the expatriates on the road and robbed him of his mobile phone, before heading towards the house the workers were living in.

Police Spokesperson Sub-Inspector Hassan Haneef today confirmed to Minivan News that a robbery was reported to police on Friday night.

Haneef said he could not confirm whether police officers and a MNDF officer were involved in the robbery.

‘’There were Maldivians involved in it,’’ he said, adding that this was all the information that he could share regarding the case at the moment.

Online newspaper Manadhoolive has also reported the same incident.

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Bangladeshi prostitution ring busted in Male’

Police have arrested five Bangladeshi men and three Bangladeshi women in a crackdown on a Bangladeshi prostitution ring.

The five were arrested last night after raiding Mahchangolhi Rauha house, a place allegedly used for prostitution.

Police conducted a special operation on Monday night and entered the house with a court warrant. There were four rooms in the house and police saw illegal sexual activities carried out in three of the four rooms when they attended the scene, police said.

According to police, officers discovered items used for sexual activities and lots of foreign and Maldivian currency.

Police said the investigation into the case had revealed that the money was obtained through prostitution.

Furthermore, police advised landlords to find out who the tenants were before renting out their houses.

In April this year, police arrested seven Bangladeshi nationals over alleged involvement in a prostitution ring on premises suspected of operating as brothels.

The suspects – four female and three male – were apprehended during raids by police officers inside Ranfaunu house, based in the Mahchangolhi ward of Male’ on 9 April.

Last October, a prostitution ring that had trafficked Sri Lankan girls to Maldivian resorts via Male’ for the past six years was busted by Sri Lankan police, and is now being investigated by local authorities.

Last Saturday police arrested four Thai women and one Maldivian man for involvement in illegal sexual activities inside a beauty salon in Male’.

In May, two people were arrested at the “New Age” beauty salon for sexual misconduct.

In April police arrested two Thai women and two local men on prostitution charges after raiding a Male’-based business called ‘Maldivian Care’.

In March police arrested five Thai nationals and three male Maldivians inside ‘Herbal Beauty Salon’, located on the second floor of Maafannu Sherrif.

Lots of beauty salons in Male’ have been closed on prostitution charges after the new government came to power.

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Two arrested in connection with the stabbing of Bangladeshi man

Police have arrested two Maldivian men who were allegedly involved in the stabbing of a Bangladeshi man last night at about 12:30am, while he was near Personal Computers, a computer shop in the Maafanu ward of Male’.

The names and identity of the pair arrested were not disclosed to the media but police said one man was 18 and the other was 19 years-old.

Police said they have confiscated the sharp weapon the assailants used near Maafannu Vakkaru house, with blood on it.

According to police the Bangladeshi man was stabbed in the neck from behind, and he was taken to Indira Gandi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) for treatment.

A statement police issued today said that the man’s condition was improving.

Police Sub-Inspector Hassan Haneef today told Minivan News that police have information that four persons were involved in the attack on the Bangladeshi man.

‘’We are searching for the other two involved,’’ Haneef said. ‘’We are not very clear on the motive behind the attack.’’

The stabbing is the latest in a wave of similar incidents across Male’, some of which have proven fatal.

Early last week, prominent Maldivian blogger and journalist Ismail ‘Hilath’ Rasheed was left in a critical condition after his throat was slashed outside his house in Male’. A Bangladeshi man was also stabbed the same evening and suffered minor injuries.

On May 30, the dead body of 16 year-old Mohamed Arham was discovered by police inside the park behind Kulliyathul Dhirasathul Islamiyya.

On May 31, 65 year-old Hassan Abubakur was found murdered inside his own house on the island of Maafaru in Noonu Atoll.

Police have arrested suspects for every stabbing incident with the exception of the attack on Hilath.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) have condemned the attack on the journalist, describing it as having  “all the hallmarks of a targeted murder attempt.”

“Rasheed has made many enemies through his outspoken blogging. The authorities in charge of the investigation should not rule out the possibility that this was linked to his journalistic activity. He is a well-known journalist who has repeatedly been censored, arrested and threatened,” RSF said in a statement.
“The police must, as a matter of urgency, put a stop to the harassment of Rasheed and take the issue of his safety seriously. Any lack of response on their part will constitute a criminal failure to assist a person in danger.”
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