Category: News in Brief

Fishing vessel splits in two mid-journey

A fishing vessel has split into two while it was out on a fishing trip with 15 fishermen on board on Thursday morning.

The 90 feet vessel, built from fibre, was towed to the island of Gemanafushi in Gaaf Alif Atoll with the aid of other boats later this morning.

None of the persons on board suffered any injuries, according to police reports.

Police stated that while they had received reports of the incident at 8am, the incident itself is believed to have taken place at approximately 6.30am. They stated that police had attended to the incident and worked to save the passengers with the assistance of the public.

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High Court passes regulations on arbitration cases

The High Court has compiled a set of regulations to be followed in arbitration cases

The ‘Regulation on the High Court presiding on Arbitration Cases’ was passed unanimously by the the general assembly of High Court judges on January 1.

The court stated that the regulation is compiled under the powers granted to them under the Arbitration Act.

The Act mandates the High Court to follow the procedures outlined in this regulation when accepting cases and passing sentences on arbitration cases.

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Maldivian arrested in India released on bail

A Maldivian woman arrested in Trivandrum, India, in late December 2014 has been released on bail on Wednesday, the Maldives consulate has said.

She had been arrested on charges of breaching the Passport Law and Foreigners Registration Amendment Law of India.

The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Court issued the order for her release on bail on Tuesday, local media quotes an unnamed official of the Maldivian Consulate in India.

Despite the order being released on Tuesday, she had to remain in detention as extra day until the consulate was able to sort out relevant bureaucratic papers with the concerned authorities of India, local media have said.

The woman’s bail had been granted upon the legal team’s assurance of presenting her to court for a scheduled hearing.

“She was released when two persons from India guaranteed that she will be presented to court. The case is not done yet. We do not know how long it will take for the case to be completed,” the official is quoted as saying.

The official further revealed that the woman had been arrested due to matters involving the tenancy of Maldivians in a rented house in Trivandrum. He stated that the officials had previously released an order looking for the woman, but neither she nor the consulate had known about the notice prior to the arrest.

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MNDF appoints commanders to three sections

Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) has appointed new commanders on January 1 to three sections; Marine Corps, Service Corps and Coast Guard.

Brigadier General Ali Zuhair – who was promoted last November from his previous position as a Colonel – has been appointed as Commander of Marine Corps.
Colonel Mohamed Shareef has replaced Colonel Abdul Raheem as Commander of the Service Corps.

Colonel Mohamed Ibrahim has been appointed Commander of the Coast Guard.

MNDF stated that the changes were brought by Minister of Defence and National Security Mohamed Nazim with the intent of strengthening the administrative management of the force, local media reports.

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Chinese tourist drowns near Ayada Maldives resort

A Chinese tourist has died today while swimming near Ayada Maldives Resort.

According to police, the tourist was admitted to Gahdhoo Health Centre in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll.

Police did not give further information of the case but said stated that they were investigating the death.

According to local media reports, Gahdhoo Health Centre confirmed that the tourist was a 35 year-old Chinese woman.

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Coast Guard marks thirty fourth anniversary

Maldives National Defence Force’s (MNDF) Coast Guard has marked their 34 anniversary today with a flag hoisting ceremony.

The Coast Guard officers were present, for the first time, in their newly introduced full white uniform.

To mark the occasion, the MNDF also organized a football match between two Coast Guard teams to be held today at Henveiru Stadium.

The new uniforms were first announced by Defence Minister Mohamed Nazim in December 2012. A ten-story building for the Coast Guard and the Ministry of Defense and National Security is soon to be built with India’s grant aid, and Minister Nazim recently sought their help in acquiring two more vessels for the Coast Guard.

In the proposed state budget for 2014 MVR 876.7 million (US$ 57 million), 5.3 percent of it, was allocated for the defense sector. In 2012 ‫‪800.8 million‬‬ was spent on the MNDF alone and in 2013 their revised budget was at MVR ‫‪756.2 million . Opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has on several occasions expressed concern over increased military spending following the controversial transfer of power in February 2012.

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Police completed investigations of sixty four cases last week

Maldives Police Service has said within last week they have completed investigation of 64 cases and asked the Prosecutor General to file charges against 109 people.

Among the cases forwarded to Prosecutor General’s Office were 25 cases related to narcotics, 13 related to theft, 10 assault cases and 9 cases of illicit sexual activity.

In addition, cases concerning bounced cheques, concerning mental and sexual abuse of children , disobeying police orders – two cases of each – were sent.

The police said that the organization is expediting investigations to finish at least eighty percent of cases submitted before 2013 within the first hundred days of President Abdullah Yameen’s government.

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Case against man who assaulted wife and child of MP submitted to PG

The case against the Mohamed Najah, who attacked his sister and wife of MP Hussain Waheed and their 3 year old daughter with a knife, has been sent to the Prosecutor General’s office.

The 30 year old man assaulted the woman and child, beating them and stabbing the woman in the head and the child in the neck on November 5, 2013.

Najah has a previous record with multiple charges for drug abuse and assault.

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President’s Office announces six more political appointments

President Abdulla Yameen has appointed two deputy ministers, a registrar of companies, a deputy ambassador, a state minister, and a CEO of a state enterprise this week.

Abdulla Ziyad has been appointed deputy minister of housing and infrastructure, and Ibrahim Nizam has been appointed deputy minister of environment and energy.

Mohamed Iyaz – a practicing lawyer – has been appointed as the registrar of companies, a post which is hierarchically equivalent to that of a deputy minister.

Usama Mohamed Rasheed has been appointed the deputy ambassador of the Maldives in Saudi Arabia, whilst Ahmed Zubair has been appointed minister of state for transport and communication.

Thoriq Ali Lutfi, who was serving as minister of state for health and gender, has been appointed to the post of chief executive officer of the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA).

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