Day: June 30, 2013

Spy camera footage appears to show Supreme Court Justice discussing politicisation of judiciary, Feb 7

A spy camera video apparently depicting a Supreme Court Justice and a local businessman discussing political influence in the judiciary has surfaced on social media networks.

Local media identified the two individuals seen in the video as Justice Ali Hameed and Mohamed Saeed, the director of local business firm ‘Golden Lane’.

The video appeared shortly after the arrest of Ahmed Faiz – a council member of President Dr Mohamed Waheed’s Gaumee Ihthihaad Party (GIP) and then-Project Advisor at the Housing Ministry – while he was allegedly trying to sell a sex tape of a Supreme Court Justice.

The spy camera footage, which carries the date January 24, 2013, shows the pair discussing how politicians have been influencing the judiciary.

Both men speak in the Addu dialect of the local Dhivehi language. Due to noise from a television near the camera, much of the conversation is unclear.

The individual believed to be Justice Hameed appears frustrated over political manipulation of the judiciary.

He claims feuds between politicians were being settled through the court even though these did not involve the law or any legal issues.

He names politicians including Abdulla Yameen, the current Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) presidential candidate and half-brother of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, as well as the running mate of incumbent President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan, Ahmed Thasmeen Ali – also the leader of the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP).

In the video, one of the men claims that he had heard plans of “killing off” DRP leader Thasmeen Ali and refers to a “second person to be killed,” however, due to the unclear audio it is not clear what the parties are referring to, or the context of the “killing”.

The person believed to be Hameed says, “If it comes into my hands, I will kill him off.”

Even [Speaker of Parliament] Abdulla Shahid will know very well that my stand is to do things the way Yameen wants. That the fall of this government was brought with our participation,” he adds (01:49, unclear).

However, he also claims that he was a person who “even Yameen cannot play with” and that over time he had “shown Yameen” who he is.

“Politicians can resolve their failures if they work on it, what the judiciary has to do, what we have to do is when these baaghees (traitors) file cases, we should say, ‘That it is a political matter. That it’s not a judicial issue. It’s not a legal issue. So don’t drag us into this. There is no legal dispute,’” he is heard saying earlier.

Referring to an unidentified group of people, he says if “they have a balanced thinking, then we will do things in a balanced way”, and asks the other individual, believed to be Saeed, if this would upset anybody.

Saeed questioned

Following the release of the video, Mohamed Saeed was twice summoned to the police for questioning, but details of the case or the topic of questioning have yet to be revealed.

However, Saeed’s lawyer Noorban Fahmy told media that Saeed opted to remain silent in the later session after he was first questioned without the presence of a lawyer.

Following the release of the camera footage, opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MP Alhan Fahmy – newly reunited with the party after a stint in the Jumhoree Party (JP) – alleged police had attempted to coerce one of his constituents in Feydhoo to confessing that Fahmy had made the video.

During a party rally in the Maafanu ward of Male’ on Saturday, Fahmy called for action against the judge regardless of the origin of the footage.

“I want to say is that we don’t need to see who made the film and who shot the film. The judge who has behaved indecently must be brought to justice. I want to say that judges who lose all their dignity through adultery and indecent behavior cannot remain as judges at courts,” he alleged.

“The video has come to our attention”: JSC

Judicial Service Commission (JSC) Spokesperson Hassan Zaheen told local media that the commission had learned about the video through media reports.

He explained that the legal department would first analyse the video and then decide whether the case was one the commission should investigate.

The leaked footage follows leaked photos of Supreme Justice Ali Hameed in a hotel room with a woman that began circulating on social media in March this year.

According to the Supreme Court website, Hameed graduated in 1991 and was awarded a Bachelor of Shari’ah and Qadhaa (Shari’ah and Law) degree from Ummul-Qura University in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

In addition, the website claimed that he was awarded a fellowship from the Commonwealth Judicial Education Institute, Canada.

Gross misconduct within judiciary: lawyers

In June, former Attorney General Husnu Al Suood alleged to local media that Yameen and Deputy Speaker of Parliament Ahmed Nazim, along with retired Supreme Court Judge Mujthaz Fahmy, had long been in the business of influencing judges and their verdicts.

“The entire judiciary is under the influence of [retired Supreme Court Judge] Mujthaaz Fahmy ,” Suood alleged.

Suood further alleged that Deputy Speaker Nazim had close ties with members of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), and said several judges had confided to him that Yameen had on several occasions given instructions to the judges over the phone as to how their sentences should be phrased.

Despite claiming to have strong evidence to support his allegations, Suood admitted that it would be extremely difficult for the authorities to take action against the three individuals.

Suood further contended that the JSC had been taken over by “dark powers”, and that it was fully under the control of certain political figures.

All three individuals accused by Suood dismissed the allegations in local media, with Yameen describing them as an “outright lie”, and expressing frustration claiming that it had become common for people to make erroneous and slanderous remarks against political figures.

“This would not have happened if defamation had been kept as a criminal offence. All this is happening because defamation has now been changed to a civil wrong,” the presidential candidate said at the time.

Tip of the iceberg?

Supreme Court misconduct has also previously been alleged by former Human Rights Minister and Attorney General Dhiyana Saeed, who claimed a Supreme Court judge requested she file a case against former President Nasheed in a bid to prevent him from running for presidency in the 2013 presidential elections.

Dhiyana in her claim did not mention the name of the judge. However, she said at the time that a judge on the Supreme Court bench had told her that he had personal scores to settle with Nasheed.

According to Saeed, the said judge had personally instructed her on the cases she should file against the former President. Saeed alleged the instructions were given at a meeting held in the judge’s house at his request following Nasheed’s controversial resignation on February 7, 2012.

Among the suggestions allegedly made by the judge included a case concerning Nasheed’s decision to remove eight members appointed to parliament by former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, prior to the ratification of the constitution.

Another suggestion included refiling a case filed by Jumhoree Party (JP) Youth Wing Leader Moosa Anwar in 2008 against Nasheed. This case claimed that Nasheed was convicted and sentenced for theft – a ‘Hadd’ offence under Sharia’ law – in similar bid to bar his candidacy ahead of the 2008 presidential elections.

Saeed also alleged that this judge was “involved” in the Supreme Court’s decision to declare the legitimacy of the controversially-formed Hulhumale’ Magistrate Court.

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Chinese hospital ship visits Maldives on ‘Mission Harmony’ tour

The Chinese government’s hospital ship, ‘Peace Ark’, is visiting the Maldives as part of its eight nation ‘Mission Harmony’ tour.

The vessel is the world’s largest dedicated hospital ship with 300 beds and eight operating theatres.

Doctors from the ship will work on eight islands across the country in addition to Male, including Guraidhoo, Rasdhoo (Alif Alif Atoll), Mahibadhoo (Alif Dhaalu), Kulhudhuffushi (Haa Dhaalu ), Fuvahmulah (Gnaviyani Atoll), Eydhafushi (Baa Atoll) Villingili (Gaafu Alifu Atoll) and Addu City in the south.

The vessel’s medical team will also conduct training of local health care workers, as well as attend local orphanages and nursing homes.

Indian media have reacted warily to the presence of the vessel, noting that this was the first Chinese interest in the Maldivian healthcare sector that has been dominated by India.

Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH), the troubled state-owned hospital in Male, was donated to the Maldives by the Indian government.

“The Maldives National Defence Force stated that China’s ‘Peace Ark’ will provide better medical facilities than IGMH. Ironically, it will be at IGMH that the Chinese Army’s medical staff will be treating patients,” reported the Indian Express.

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ADK hospital extends lease, signals US$23 million expansion

Male’s privately-owned ADK hospital has extended its lease by 50 years and announced a US$23 million to expand services.

The hospital’s Chairman Ahmed Nashid told local media the expansion project would be partly funded using a loan from the German Development Bank, and would double the hospital’s capacity.

The expansion will include four operating theatres, critical care facility, a senior citizen’s unit, cardiac laboratory, MRI machine and a power house, ADK Managing Director Ahmed Afaal told local media.

The hospital will also construct a health science school and grant 10 scholarships providing board and lodging for students coming to Male from the islands.

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President inaugurates Hulhumale seaport terminal

President Dr Mohamed Waheed has inaugurated a new seaport terminal on Hulhumale.

In a statement on the President’s Office website, Waheed declared the opening of the port would “bring vast progress” to Hulhumale.

“The President expressed his hopes that distribution of products manufactured in Hulhumale, to other parts of the country, and exportation of those products would be made much easier in the future,” read the statement.

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Government-aligned parties unveil youth policies

Two of the candidates contesting in the upcoming September 7 presidential elections held rallies on Saturday night, unveiling policies targeting women and youth.

President Mohamed Waheed Hassan’s Gaumee Ithihaadh Party (GIP), along with coalition members Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) and religious conservative Adhaalath Party (AP), revealed the first of their pledges and policies at an event held in Stelco on Saturday night, followed by a music show and dinner at Alimas Carnival.

The Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) simultaneously held a rally on Sosun Magu, where its presidential candidate Abdulla Yameen revealed the party’s pledges focusing on women and youth.

“Creative minds of youth will not go to waste”: Waheed

At the GIP-DRP-AP event President Waheed unveiled the coalition’s youth manifesto, divided into four subcategories: “education and training, jobs and earning, sports and entertainment, and starting a new life”.

Waheed stated that if he is elected for a new term, he intended to double the number of students studying for A Levels and diplomas during his first year in office. He added that within three years of a new term, he intended to open up for all students the opportunity to either study to A-level standard or get vocational training.

Waheed spoke of unemployment rates in the country, stating that if he is elected, his government would provide training and loans for youth for small and mid-level business start-ups.

“It is the youth who possess the most creative minds. It is the duty of every government to ensure that these minds do not go to waste. We are aware of that,” Waheed stated, addressing group of around a hundred supporters and party members at the rally.

Speaking on the sector of the coaltion’s manifesto focusing on sports and entertainment, Waheed revealed plans to establish a sports academy to address the lack of facilities to promote sports in the capital city as well as the atolls.

Waheed also claimed existing sports associations would be given increased financial assistance, particularly watersports.

Concluding the presentation, Waheed spoke of the importance of youth having the means to live independently and in privacy, pledging to provide better housing options.

Following this event, leaders of all three coalition parties attended the music show and dinner at Alimas Carnival.

Minivan News observed close to 200 attendees at the dinner, including political leaders from DRP, GIP and the Adhaalath parties, in addition to other members of the current government. Attendees included the politicians’ security details and a large contingent of police, including 10 Special Operations officers. The dining setup for invitees was fenced off from the public area.

Live music was halted while dinner was served, and instead a video was played on a loop on two screens, produced by private media channel DhiTV. The video included excerpts of Waheed’s speeches in the past year, and images from protests showing confrontations between police and demonstrators.

The looped video showed Waheed speaking on a number of issues, including “Does any citizen want the Maldives to become the next Afghanistan?” and “It is always external influences that contribute to breaking up a country’s social fabric.”

PPM Youth City

Meanwhile, PPM presidential candidate Abdulla Yameen announced during Saturday night’s rally that the party intended to transform Hulhumale’ into a “Youth City” where enough apartments to accommodate young people would be constructed.

Yameen said the pledge was meant to cater to the large number of young people who are unable to start a married life due to the lack of housing options.

Yameen also referred to former President and PPM Leader Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom’s 2008 pledge to build a bridge connecting Hulhumale’ to Male’, stating that this dream would be made a reality if PPM wins the upcoming election.

Yameen further stated that in a PPM government, women’s rights would be a major priority.

He stated that women would be given the opportunity to stay at home and work via internet in the instances of “special conditions that are faced by women”. He further stated that the party would ensure a way through which wives can claim “ some percentage” from a husband’s business enterprise.

“Women are valuable people who produce and raise persons who are very important to the nation. They are often at the forefront of everything. We will change the work environment in such a way that suits women.”

Competitors’ criticisms

With reference to the recent acts of supporters painting walls in party colours, Waheed stated that, “the painting of public spaces in party-specific colours is, according to what we know, an act so lowly it is beneath anything a human would do” and that he “sometimes [has] seen such acts being done by creatures on National Geographic channel”.

He said that “these colours are not ones that are painted in the minds or hearts of our youth”, saying that his party will not resort to painting walls in any public places.

“Consider it. Being in the post that I am in now, how would it look if I went and started painting seawalls in my party colour? If I were to paint the walls of the place allocated to the Supreme Court in my party colour? No, we who are leading must set an example for youth,” he stated.

Meanwhile, PPM running mate Mohamed Jameel Ahmed criticised the GIP-DRP-AP coalition’s youth policy launch, stating that Waheed, who is “throwing out important youth figures in the current government has no justification to speak of youth and their interests.”

Speaking at Saturday night’s rally, Jameel said it was youth figures who were most vocal in working to put right the wrongs of the previous government. He said that through these efforts, these youth guaranteed opportunities in today’s government, adding that due to this, Waheed was unjustified in removing them from their posts using their transfer to PPM as an excuse for dismissal.

“A leader who throws out capable youth when they say that with their political beliefs, their conscience does not permit them to work behind this man, has no justification to speak about youth again,” Jameel said.

PPM Presidential Candidate Abdulla Yameen described the policies of other candidates as focusing on “temporary needs”. He stated that PPM would focus on bigger issues, including establishing facilities to do kidney transplants in local hospitals.

“We know the hardships faced by citizens who require kidney transplants. What a blessing it will be if this can be done in this country itself, don’t you think? This is what we are talking of. Now, while this is on offer, will you instead choose eggs and bananas and laptops?” Yameen said, referring to Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s health policy and Jumhoree Party (JP)’s educational policy.

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President meets with Japanese internal affairs, communications minister

Japan’s Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Yoshita Shindo has today met with President Dr Mohamed Waheed in Male’ to discuss the latest political and economic developments in the Maldives.

Among the discussions, Dr Waheed pledged his commitment to ensuring a transparent presidential election later this year.  He also discussed the possibilities for future cooperation in helping the Maldives with its commitments to developing renewable energy and other sustainable projects, the President’s Office has said.

President Waheed also thanked Minister Shindo for the assistance provided by the Japanese government to the Maldives in the areas of education, telecommunications and broadcasting.

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Foreign investors scared away: PPM

Foreign investors turning away from the Maldives in favour of more stable political environments in the region, such as Mauritius and Seychelles, leader of the Progressive Party of the Maldives and presidential candidate Abdulla Yameen has said.

Speaking at rally on Saturday, Yameen said investors were overlooking the Maldives.

“With our present woes no one wants to invest here. They are looking at Seychelles and Caracas. No foreign investor wants to come to the Maldives,” local media reported him as saying.

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World Music Day concert rocks Male’ City Hall

Male’ City Hall was transformed into a music venue last night by the Alliance Française Maldives (AFM), which hosted free musical performances by Maldivian and French musicians in celebration of World Music Day.

The Alliance Française Maldives (AFM) has organised annual Fête de la Musique (World Music Day) events in Male’ since 2009, with music performed in public spaces “for everyone to enjoy” as part of this worldwide celebration, AFM Director Cécile Le Breton told Minivan News today (June 30).

Although World Music Day began as an initiative of the French Ministry of Culture in 1982, since its inception the event has become such a “big success” that over 500 cities in 100 countries organise free music performances to mark the beginning of summer, according to Breton.

“In Male’, people are waiting, expecting and looking forward to something like this – an event that offers a break from their daily lives,” said Breton. “This year was quite a huge success, we were very happy so many people showed up.”

“A lot – a lot – of young people came to this event, you could see on their faces that they are really looking for this kind of stuff; something entertaining that’s different from what’s been happening,” she continued.

“There is not that much happening for youth, nothing really interesting, no big music or cultural events,” she noted. “They were so happy to have a chance to musically express themselves.”

“So many people came up to me saying ‘you should organise a concert like this every month’,” she added.

Over 200 people attended last night’s (June 29) event, which featured traditional Maldivian drumming, singing and dancing by Habeys Boduberu Group, energetic performances by Maldivian rock banks Wave Damage and Velvet Flames, as well as a French gypsy jazz band, Caravan Quartet.

“Cultural events are quite successful because they offer csomething different to experience,” said Breton. “This is one of the biggest events AFM holds every year and it is open to everyone.”

“People could hear from the street and a lot came in. It was a pretty good location, although not a very big venue,” she added.

Due to “poor weather conditions and political events” taking place throughout Male’, AFM hosted the event in the Male’ City Hall building located on the capital’s main thoroughfare Majeedhee Magu, however last year World Music Day festivities took place in Sultan Park.

According to AFM, the event setting gives the original ambiance of Fête de la Musique in France, as during the world music day every musician is free to express their artistic talent in countless public places – streets, parks, squares, museums, restaurants – creating a festive atmosphere. Musical performances even take place in “unusual” locations, such as prisons or hospitals.

“We are very proud of this event,” said Breton. “Organising it took a lot of time and energy and you never know if an event like this is going to work in the Maldives.”

“It was very difficult to find sponsors because they kept saying ‘its not the right time’. They were so afraid and discouraged holding cultural music events,” she lamented.

“I think they were reluctant because we are not Maldivians, but Alliance Française received so much positive feedback, especially from youth. We definitely have a role to play holding events like this that are accessible to everyone,” she continued.

Alliance Française Maldives is an NGO based in Male’ since 2009, teaching the French language and giving an insight into French culture, and promoting cultural diversity. AFM holds a variety of diverse cultural events throughout the year, including movie screenings, poetry readings, photography exhibitions, and cooking workshops.

“We are a non-political, non-religious, non-profit organisation trying to bring something different and open people’s minds,” explained Breton. “Part of our primary mission is to offer cultural programs, which is why the organisation was created and has branches worldwide.”

According to the AFM 2013 website, the group has chosen to organise monthly events with a view to maintain coherence within the francophone and francophile groups, to facilitate meetings among like minded individuals and spark creative projects.

Founded in Paris in 1884, Alliance Française is a non-profit association giving the opportunity to anyone to learn French language and enjoy the culture of French speaking-countries worldwide, with over 1000 centres across 136 countries.

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Bangladeshi national stabbed in Addu City

Police have reported that a Bangladeshi national living in Addu City was stabbed yesterday (June 29).

Police said the incident occurred last night at about 10:50pm, and that the man was stabbed twice in the back.

The man was admitted to Hithadhoo Regional Hospital for treatment and was released this morning, police said.

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