Category: News in Brief

Man sentenced to seven years and six months for stealing laptop

The Criminal Court has sentenced Hussein Abdul Hakeem of Lhaviyani atoll Hinnavaru Island to seven years and six months for stealing a laptop.

This is the seventh count of theft against Hakeem. The Penal Code adds a year for every count of theft.

Hakeem was sentenced for stealing a laptop from a house in Malé in 2012.

In February, Ali Rasheed of Haa Dhaal Hanimadhoo Island was sentenced to four and a half years for stealing three lotion bottles. Rasheed also had been convicted of theft four times previously.

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Nine hospitalised in ferry accident in Kumundhoo

Nine people have been hospitalised after a ferry ran onto the reef in Haa Dhaal atoll Kumundhoo Island on Saturday.

According to the Maldives Police Services, the ferry had been traveling from Haa Dhaal atoll Kulhudhuffushi Island and was attempting to enter Kumundhoo’s harbor when it collided with the island’s reef.

Women and children were aboard the ferry and several had to receive medical care for injuries while nine individuals had to be taken to Kulhudhuffushi’s Regional Hospital for treatment.

The Maldives National Defense Forces (MNDF), the police and islanders are now attempting to sink the boat.

Meanwhile, the Meteorology Department has warned of strong winds, rough seas and tidal surges with the southwest monsoon in full swing. The government has urged boats to take extra caution.

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Police confiscate 190 bags of goods from local market

The Maldives Police Services have confiscated 190 bags of goods from the local market area in Malé.

According to the police, the goods were being kept for long periods in public spaces and were a nuisance to traffic and pedestrians.

The 190 bags include 70 bags of watermelon.

The police have warned it will continue to confiscate such goods and has urged the public to follow the rules in handling goods.

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Turkish national arrested with gun parts

A Turkish national was arrested at the airport last week after parts of a gun were found in his luggage, reports newspaper Haveeru.

According to the local daily, the man was a crew member of a Turkish oil tanker and was among nine crew members attempting to leave via Ibrahim Nasir International Airport (INIA).

While the Criminal Court has since extended the suspect’s remand detention to ten days, the rest of the crew were reportedly allowed to leave.

Following the arrest, the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) reportedly searched the oil tanker although the MNDF spokesperson declined to comment on the matter.

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Court extends detention of four suspects in 24kg drug smuggling case

The Criminal Court has extended pre-trial detention of four suspects arrested in connection with the smuggling of 24kg of heroin in March to 15 days on Friday (July 4).

According to police, the suspects include three Maldivian men and a Bangladeshi man while the remand detention of a fourth Maldivian was extended to seven days on July 1.

Last week, the Criminal Court denied ordering the deportation of two Pakistanis arrested in connection with the case after police claimed the court had ordered their transfer to the care of the Immigration Department.

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Two arrested in Hoarafushi for selling illicit drugs

Police have arrested two individuals from the island of Hoarafushi for engaging in the widespread sale of illicit drugs.

According to the police, the two persons arrested on Wednesday night are local men both aged 19.

While the Hoarafushi Magistrate Court has extended their detention by ten days, police have stated that they are unable to provide further details as the investigation is ongoing.

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Labour Relations Authority voices concern over failure to pay Ramadan allowance

The Labour Relations Authority has announced that it has discovered a number of employers who have failed to pay the Ramadan allowance in accordance with the law.

According to the authority, the matter is mostly found in companies doing construction work, hotel managers, and retail businesses.

The authority further confirmed that it is in the process of taking due action against businesses that fail to comply with the law.

According to the law, every Muslim employee must be paid one third of their salary as Ramadan allowance. If the amount is below MVR2000, employers must pay a minimum of MVR 2000. The amount cannot, however, exceed MVR10,000.

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EC to send names of candidates who failed to submit financial statements to PG

The Elections Commission (EC) has announced it will be sending for prosecution the names of 76 candidates who took part in the recently concluded parliamentary elections after they failed to submit their financial statements.

The EC confirmed that the 76 candidates who are to be sent for prosecution do not include any of the newly elected parliamentarians.

According to the General Elections Act, candidates are required to submit financial records of election expenditure to the EC within 30 days of the election.

Of the 302 candidates who contested in the parliamentary elections, 226 candidates submitted the financial records to the EC as required.

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Chair and deputy chair of parliament’s economic committee elected

Parliament’s economic committee has elected Nilandhoo constituency MP Abdulla Khaleel as its chair and Meedhoo constituency MP Ahmed ‘Sun’ Siyam as its deputy chair at a committee meeting held on Wednesday (July 2).

Maamigili constituency MP – leader of Jumhooree Party – Gasim Ibrahim and Hithadhoo Uthuru constituency MP Mohamed Aslam were also nominated for the post of chair but lost by 1 vote and 3 votes, respectively.

In addition to these four members, the committee also included Galolhu Uthuru constituency MP Eva Abdulla, Thinadhoo Uthuru constituency MP Saudhulla Hilmy, Guraidhoo constituency MP Hussain Manik Dhon Manik, Central Fuvahmulah constituency MP Ali Fazaadh, Kin’bidhoo constituency MP Abdulla Riyaz, Maduhvari constituency MP Mohamed Ameeth, and Laamu Gan constituency Fayyaz Ismail.

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