Category: News in Brief

Man arrested in Thinadhoo for child sex abuse

Police arrested a 29-year-old man from the island of Thinadhoo in Gaaf Dhaal atoll on Thursday night (August 7) for alleged child sex abuse.

Police said the suspect was taken into custody with an arrest warrant obtained after receiving information from a member of the public.

Preliminary investigations have revealed that the man had repeatedly molested the minor, police said, noting that the suspect had a criminal record.

Police did not reveal any further details of the case.

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New Zealand and Maldives discuss issues faced by small states

Murray McCully, Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand met with Dunya Maumoon, Minister of Foreign Affairs on Thursday (August 7) to discuss security and environmental issues shared by small states.

Dunya noted New Zealand’s strong support of small states and the specific challenges in terms of security, environmental degradation, and political leverage that small states face in the international arena.

In return, McCully assured his commitment to working closely with the Maldives in strengthening the bilateral relations between the two countries and on global issues of mutual interest such as security of small states, renewable energy, and climate change.

In addition, Dunya thanked the Government of New Zealand for the scholarship opportunities provided by New Zealand for Maldivian students and expressed hope that such opportunities would increase in future.

Dunya has said noted previously that highlighting the challenges faced by small states would form an important part of the Maldives’ foreign policy.

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MMA reports increased business activity in second quarter

All sectors of the domestic economy with the exception of the tourism industry reported increased business activity in the second quarter (Q2) of 2014, according to the Maldives Monetary Authority’s (MMA) Quarterly Business Survey.

“With regard to the current level of employment, businesses across all sectors, except for those in the tourism sector, indicated an increase in Q2-2014 compared to Q1-2014,” the report observed.

“Looking ahead, all sectors anticipate an increase in employment in Q3-2014, reflecting the optimism shown by majority of businesses towards improved activity levels in this quarter.”

While businesses in the construction sector reported an increase in prices, the report noted that businesses in the wholesale and retail trade, manufacturing and tourism reported a fall in prices.

“As for business costs, businesses across all sectors experienced an increase in all labour related costs and other input costs in Q2-2014 when compared to Q1-2014, while they expect a further increase in costs in Q3-2014 as well.”

In the construction industry, the survey found that factors which limit growth opportunities included “delays in payment by clients and cost of raw materials.”

“Other significant factors include limited access to bank credit and foreign exchange, high cost of labour and finance; and shortage of materials,” the report noted.

The quarterly survey is conducted by the central bank for a “quick assessment of current business trends and expected future economy activity” by questioning senior managers “on the direction of change in various business variables such as sales, output, prices, exports, capacity utilisation and employment”.

“Survey forms were sent out to 135 large enterprises in four main sectors of the economy which are construction; manufacturing; tourism; wholesale and retail trade. A total of 65 enterprises responded to the survey which represents an overall response rate of 48 percent,” the report explained.

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Bank of Maldives operating profits up 65 percent

The Bank of Maldives (BML) has announced that operating profit in the second quarter of 2014 increased 65 percent from the previous quarter, reaching MVR353 million (US$23 million).

“The Bank continues to move in the right direction. We are steadily building a sustainable financial base to support our strategic pillars of financial inclusion, customer service and support for business,” CEO and Managing Director Andrew Healy was quoted as saying in a press release.

“Since announcing these strategic priorities at its AGM in May, the bank has made a number of positive changes including the introduction of free cash withdrawals at ATMs and free transfers from one branch to another,” the press release continued.

“It has also recommenced issuing Visa Debit cards for rufiyaa accounts. Furthermore, the bank has started a programme to bring banking services to all inhabited islands across the country.”

“As part of its strategy, Bank of Maldives is also heavily investing in state-of-the-art technology and went live with T24, one of the world’s most advanced Branch Banking Systems on last Sunday, 3rd August 2014.”
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Three suspects in 24kg drug bust released

Three suspects arrested in a 24kg drug bust in February have been released after the Prosecutor General’s (PG) Office decided there was insufficient evidence to prosecute the three Maldivian men, reports local media.

After taking 18 men into custody, police forwarded five cases for prosecution. However, the PG’s Office have decided to prosecute only two suspects – both Maldivians – identified as Abdulla Sofwath, from Henveiru Everpeace, and Ismail Moosa, from Galolhu Trustwood.

The Criminal Court has ordered that the pair be kept in remand detention pending the outcome of their trial.

Local media has meanwhile reported that the three locals released last week included a police officer arrested in connection with the drug bust as well as the captain of a dhoni (traditional Maldivian boat) that collected the heroin from an Iranian vessel.

Four Maldivians, three Bangladeshis, and 11 Pakistanis were taken into custody on March 10 with 24kg of heroin, which police said was “the largest amount of drugs seized in a police operation conducted in the Maldives so far.”

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Police seize drugs worth MVR525,000 in drug busts

Police have seized drugs with a street value in excess of MVR525,000 (US$34,046) in two drug bust in Malé last week.

According to police media, three Maldivian men aged 32, 33, and 34 were arrested near the Hulhumalé express jetty on Thursday morning (August 7) in an operation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Department (DED).

Drugs with an estimated street value of MVR480,000 (US$31,128) was found in the backpack of the 33-year-old.

The Criminal Court has since extended the remand detention of the suspects to 10 days.

In the second operation, a 52-year-old Maldivian man was arrested with drugs worth MVR45,000 (US$2,918) from a room in the Maafaru guest house Thursday night. The guest house was raided based on intelligence information.

Police also found two cellophane wrapping rolls and a small weighing device.

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MDP announces candidates for leadership election

The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has announced a one candidate list for its upcoming leadership election on August 29.

Former President Mohamed Nasheed is the sole candidate for party president while former MP Mohamed Shifaz is the sole candidate for vice president.

Former MP Alhan Fahmy had applied for the position, but the party’s election committee disqualified him after he ran as an independent candidate in March’s parliamentary polls after having lost the MDP primaries in the Addu Feydhoo constituency.

Former MP Ali Waheed is the sole candidate for party chairperson and Ali Niyaz is the only candidate for deputy chairperson.

Despite having no contenders, candidates need to win at least ten percent of the party vote to be elected.

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President’s Office calls for applications for ACC

The President’s Office is calling for new applications for the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC).

The application period opened on August 5 and will run until 3pm on Monday, August 11.

The first independent ACC’s term is to expire this year.

Applicants must be over 25 years of age, must not hold political party membership, a political position, or a civil service position, must not have committed a hadd offense in the past five years, and must not have committed any act of corruption.

If potential applicants have been convicted of another criminal offense, a period of five years must have lapsed since the end of the sentence or their pardoning.

The president will vet applicants and submit nominations to the People’s Majlis for approval.

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Doctor for every family programme begins in Nilandhoo

President Abdulla Yameen’s ‘Doctor for every family’ programme began in Faafu Atoll Nilandhoo Island on August 4.

Faafu Atoll Hospital Manager Ahmed Nazim told local media that two doctors have begun home visits are to cover at least 10 households every day.

Doctors are expected to assess each member of the household and provide preventive care.

Nilandhoo – the capital of Faafu Atoll in central Maldives – is home to an estimated 2000 people.

According to Nazim, a medical officer, a nurse, a translator, and a community health officer will accompany doctors during home visits.

The visits will help control any disease outbreaks and facilitate a healthier environment on the island, Nazim said.

The government has announced it will assign one doctor for each population of 2,500. So far, the programme is ongoing only in Malé’s suburb Villimalé.

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