Category: News in Brief

Mohamed Ashmalee appointed state minister of finance

Presdent Abdulla Yameen has appointed Mohamed Ashmalee as a state minister for finance and treasury.

The appointment brings the number of ministers to include 16 cabinet members, 5 other appointees at ministerial rank, 32 state ministers and 60 deputy ministers.

Yoosuf Abdul Ghafoor was appointed as the ‎‎state minister for home affairs last week. ‎

The president has also submitted the name of Aishath Zahira to the People’s Majlis for a second term as the ‎deputy governor of the Maldives Monetary Authority, while applications are currently being received for the new post of information commissioner as well as a new member of the Police Integrity Commission.

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Equatorial Convention Centre’s unpaid bills approach MVR8 million

The unpaid electricity bills for Addu City’s Equatorial Convention Centre (ECC) have reached MVR 7.9 million (US$512,000) local media has reported.

Local director for the state-owned FENAKA utilities company told Sun Online that the constant supply of electricity needed for the three-year-old facility had not been paid since its construction.

Built on reclaimed marsh land for the for the hosting of the 17th SAARC summit in 2011, the ECC has become somewhat of a white elephant, with current responsibility for its upkeep falling to the Housing Ministry.

Addu City Mayor Abdulla Sodig has previously expressed concern that the neglect of the convention centre could cause irreparable damage to the premises.

Earlier this year the Housing Ministry also reclaimed oversight of the country’s other major convention centre, Dharubaaruge in Malé. On this occasion the ministry accused Malé City Council of failing to maintain the facility, to which the council responded that it had not been granted the promised funds.

Both Malé City and Addu City councils are heavily dominated by the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party.

Zuhair told Sun today that requests to secure payment for the ECC’s bills had been unsuccessful.

Previous plans to lease the centre to private companies were shelved after the fall of the MDP government in February 2012, the same month the winning bidder was to take over operations.

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Maldivian reported missing in Malaysia

A 28-year-old Maldivian man has been reported missing in Malaysia.

Hamdhan Mohamed, from Malé City, checked onto a flight on Thursday at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport to return to the Maldives.

However, his luggage was offloaded when he failed to board the flight, local media have reported.

The Maldivian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur and the Malaysian authorities are searching for the man, Haveeru said.

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State presents witnesses in Sun Shiyam’s alcohol possession trial

The Prosecutor General’s Office has presented witnesses in the alcohol possession trial against tourism tycoon and MP for Meedhoo constituency MP Ahmed ‘Sun Travel’ Shiyam.

Two Customs Services officers who checked Shiyam’s bag in March 2012 at Ibrahim Nasir International Airport testified to finding an alcohol bottle in his luggage at the Criminal Court today, local media has reported.

A Maldives Airports Company Ltd (MACL) staff member who handled the luggage said they were not aware an alcohol bottle was in the bag when they took it for screening.  The staff said the bag was unlocked and it was possible for someone to have put the bottle in the bag.

Two police officers who carried out forensic tests on the bottle testified that the substance in the bottle is alcohol.

Shiyam has denied charges, claiming he is being framed.

The penalty for alcohol possession in the penal code is either a fine of between MVR1,000 to MVR3,000, or imprisonment, banishment or house arrest for up to three years.

Under Article 73 of the constitution, an MP convicted of a criminal offence and sentenced to more than one year in prison will lose his or her seat in parliament.

The case has garnered controversy after Criminal Court Judge Abdulla Mohamed took over the case from Judge Ahmed Sameer following a complaint by Shiyam in which he said Judge Aziz’s “hand gestures and facial expressions” indicated a personal grudge against him which could lead to an unfair trial.

The MP for Dhaal Meedhoo is the leader of Maldives Development Alliance – which has 7,537 registered members and five MPs – and is founder of the Sun Travel and Tours company.

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Medianet under investigation on suspicion of rebroadcasting World Cup football matches without rights

The Maldives Broadcasting Commission (MBC) is investigating cable TV provider Medianet on suspicion of rebroadcasting ongoing FIFA World Cup football matches without broadcasting rights.

Speaking to news agency Haveeru, MBC Secretary General Noora Ali said the commission was not aware that a special channel set up by Media Net – called ‘Ice’ – had the proper rights to air World Cup matches.

Only the Maldives Broadcasting Corporation’s TVM and private broadcaster Villa TV (VTV) are licensed to broadcast the matches, she said.

Medianet had charged an extra MVR100 from its customers to gain access to Ice.

According to Haveeru, Medianet has now stopped airing Ice. Instead, it is broadcasting World Cup matches through India’s Sony Six channel. Customers will have to pay an additional fee to view the channel, Haveeru said.

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Health Ministry to employ 47 midwives

The Health Ministry has announced it will employ 47 midwives as part of a plan to improve maternal and child health services in the islands.

The Health Ministry said 90 applicants, including individuals aged between 55 and 65 years of age, have applied for the positions. All applicants are required to have completed a certificate course in midwifery.

The government says it plans to have at least one midwife on every island.

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Government suggests amendments to Anti-Corruption Act, Police Act, HRCM Act and Audit Act

The government has proposed amendments to four key laws, claiming articles in the acts contravened provisions in the current constitution.

The amendments submitted to the People’s Majlis includes the Anti- Corruption Act, the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives Act, the Police Act, and the Audit Act. The government did not reveal details of the amendments.

The government has previously submitted amendments to the Immigration Act, and the Protection of Child Rights Act on Tuesday.

These laws were enacted under the old constitution and are to be amended to ensure rights guaranteed in the constitution are enshrined in old laws.

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PG appeals Criminal Court decision to release alleged black magic practitioner

The Prosecutor General’s Office has appealed a Criminal Court decision to release an alleged black magic practitioner from pre-trial detention.

The black magic practitioner, locally known as Fandithaveriya, was caught nude with a man and a woman in a shop called Dhanaal in Malé City on December 29.

According to news agency Haveeru, the man and woman were having sex on the instructions of the Fandithaveriya when they were arrested.

An appeal hearing was held on Wednesday. The case is ongoing at the High Court.

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Islamic Minister to release MVR10 million for mosque repair in Ramadan

Minister of Islamic Affairs Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed has pledged to spend MVR10 million on mosque repair in the Maldives for the Islamic month of Ramadan.

Speaking to news agency Haveeru, Shaheem said the ministry had handed over MVR800,000 to the Malé City Council to repair 22 mosques in the capital.

The announcement comes after the council had expressed concern over the ministry’s failure to release funds.

“So far, we have released funds for 100 mosques. In the past two weeks, we have spent approximately MVR4 million for mosque repair,” Shaheem said.

Funds will be spent to replace fans, repair sound systems, and renovate toilets and minarets, he said.

Shaheem also noted difficulties in repairing the domed roof of the Hulhumalé mosque. The Qatar government has pledged US$100,000 for the job and released US$50,000 so far, he said.

The Islamic minister also expressed concern over the delays in construction of Furugaan Mosque on Ameenee Magu in Malé. He said eight years has passed since construction began, but expressed confidence the mosque would be opened for Ramadan.

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