Day: December 25, 2013

Police raids two safari boat and seize alcohol bottles stored against regulations

Police have raided two safari boats docked at Hulhumale’ and seized alcohol bottles that were stored in the safari boats in violation of the regulations.

According to police, last night (24 December 2013) at about 7:55 pm police raided two safari boats named ‘Handhu’ and Handhu falhi’ after receiving information that these boats have been trading alcohol illegally.

Police said that a total of 106 bottles of alcohol and 784 cans were seized in the operation.

The bottles and cans seized by the police were stored in violation to the regulation on usage of alcohol and poke.

No arrests were made during the operation, however, police said the Drug Enforcement Department was investigating the case.

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Police launches special program to make Hulhumale’ peaceful and crime free

Police have launched a joint special program with the Hulhumale’ Development Corporation (HDC) to make Hulhumale’ a peaceful place for visitors and residents of Hulhumale’.

The program which was launched today will continue until 14 January.

According to the police, there will be special programs conducted to ensure that the streets of Hulhumale’ are peaceful for pedestrians and vehicles.

The police is to increase patrolling around the areas of ferry terminal and different areas of Hulhumale’ and also said they will try to stop crimes before they occur.

Police will try not to give opportunity to park motorbikes in violation to the regulations.

Furthermore, the police said that they will work together with the Hulhumale’ Development Corporation to install street lights on streets that are dark.

On December 10, the police established a 100 day road-map and started implementing it in order to strengthen the work of police and to gain the trust of the people.

The road-map was based on four main strategies which seek to increase and enhance operational activities, conduct activities to curb crime, enhance and hasten investigations, and improve the police institution.

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Police to organize camp for adolescents

Maldives Police Services have announced that it will be conducting a camp for adolescent children in the island of Feydhoo Finolhu.

Titled “Blues for Youth”, the camp is targeted for children between the ages of 15 and 18. It will be conducted from January 5 to 9, 2014.

Police said that preference in candidate selection will be given to applicants who are in school cadets or have previously been in the cadet corps.

Police stated that the camp will focus on broadening the role of youth in national activities, to build a healthy young generation, to prepare them for the job market and to facilitate opportunities to strengthen assertiveness.

Among various other lessons, those attending the camp will learn fighting skills, self-defense, and how to use police equipment.

In addition to this, participants will also be given the opportunity to observe how forensics and investigative work is carried out, engage in sports and entertainment activities, and a “special moment with the Police Commissioner”.

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President appoints five Deputy Ministers

President Abdulla Yameen has appointed five additional deputy ministers on Wednesday, adding to five other political appointments this week alone.

Hussain Haneef has been appointed as Deputy Minister of Education.

Ikram Hassan has been appointed as Deputy Minister of Ministry of Transport and Communication

Deputy Minister Adam Zalif has been transferred from Ministry of Economic Development to Ministry of Health and Gender.

Akhthar Haleem has been appointed Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy.

Hussain Zaamir has been appointed Deputy Minister of Finance and Treasury.

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Man arrested on Fuvamulak with suspected illegal drugs

Police have arrested a man from Fuvamulak with suspected illegal drugs.

According to the police, he was arrested on 23 December 2013 while he was inside Fuvamulak Hospital. Officers found four packets containing suspected illegal drugs inside the pocket of his jeans.

Fuvamulak Police Station is further investaging the case.

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Former President Waheed dissolves GIP, joins PPM

Former President Mohamed Waheed has decided to join the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) after his Gaumee Ihthihaad Party (GIP – National Unity Party) was dissolved by the party’s council.

Waheed signed for the PPM at a special event attended by President Abdulla Yameen held today.

Other members of the GIP’s leadership also signed for the PPM alongside Waheed.

This includes his political advisor Ahmed Thaufeeq, State Minister of Education Abdulla Nazeer, former President’s Office Spokesperson Masood Imad, Maldivian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Hussain Shihab, former Immigration Controllers Dr Mohamed Ali and Ilyas Hussain Ibrahim, Adnaan Ali and Jaufar Easa Adam.

Waheed said his decision to join PPM is in the best interest of the nation at the current time. He praised PPM for winning “a very competitive and difficult election”, saying it is the PPM that is most capable of overcoming obstacles and facing up to challenges.

GIP Council member Thaufeeq informed local media that the council members had unanimously made the decision to dissolve the party as they did not believe it wise to continue running the party in the present political and economic circumstances.

“We agreed that the current political and economic situation makes it difficult for small parties to function here. We believe that dissolving the party would be beneficial to the nation and citizens as the state spends large amounts from its budget on funding small political parties,” Thaufeeq said.

Waheed himself led the meeting attended by all ten council members of the party.

Thaufeeq confirmed that the party would complete sending in all formal documentation needed to dissolve the party to the Elections Commission by Thursday.

According to the Elections Commission (EC) website, the GIP – which was officially registered on September 4, 2008 – currently has 5864 signed members.

The EC has sent a letter to all parties comprising less than 10,000 members notifying them that they will be dissolved within three months after the ratification of the Political Party Act in September.

In March, when the draft of the political party bill was being discussed, several smaller parties began membership drives to reach the limit of 10,000 members, including the GIP, business tycoon MP Gasim Ibrahim’s Jumhooree Party and the religious conservative Adhaalath Party.

Waheed’s GIP was accused of trying to induce people to join throughillegitimate means, in a bid to shore up the party’s membership base. The inducements included offering “music equipment and a place to play for free” as well as “hosting shows and parties” for young people.

Apart from luxurious parties and entertainment, the GIP also allegedly promised highly paid government jobs and promotions in return for joining the party.

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52 year-old man sentenced to 10 years for child sex abuse

Bileidhoo Magistrate Court on the island of Bileidhoo in Faafu Atoll has sentenced a 52 year-old man to 10 years for sexually abusing a minor.

Police identified the 52 year-old man as Hassan Zareer, 52 of Jeymugasdhoshuge in Bileidhoo, Faafu Atoll.

According to the police, on January 9, 2013, the Family and Children Services Centre in Faafu Atoll reported the case to police alleging that Zareer had sexually abuse a minor multiple times on different days.

Police said that during the trial Zareer denied the charges against him, however, the court ruled that the witness statements produced by the state, the report submitted by the Family and Children Services Centre in Faafu Atoll, the Medico Legal Report submitted by the state and the police investigation was enough to rule Zareer was guilty.

The court stated that all the documents produced to the court were official documents that can be considered as evidence according to the Act Number 12/2009 Special Measures Against Perpetrators of Child Sex Abuse.

Bileidhoo Magistrate Court’s ruling stated that the victim told her father and aunt about the incident and according to what the victim has said, Zareer has completed five elements of the crimes stated in the Act 12/2009.

The court also ruled that Zareer was guilty of the crime beyond reasonable doubt as stated in article 51[h] and Zareer was sentenced under article 3[c] of Act Number 12/2009.

Furthermore, the court advised Zareer to refrain from big and small acts of crimes and sins.

The police concluded the investigation in to the case and sent it to the Prosecutor General’s Office on 25 February 2013.

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One killed, one injured in Male’ stabbing incident

Two young men of 18 and 21 years of age were stabbed last night in an incident that took place near ‘Coffee Corner’ cafe’ in Male’ around 11:37pm, police have reported.

The 21 year old – identified as Hussein Waheed – passed away while being treated for injuries at Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Malé. The other victim of the attack, Shaz Shareef is being treated for injuries at the hospital. Both victims were from the neighborhood in which they were stabbed.

Speaking to Minivan News, a police media official said the force had immediately begun a special operation to find the perpetrators, and said a 26 year old had already been taken into police custody.

While the police declined to give further details about the suspect, in a video message, the head of the MPS Serious and Organized Crime Unit has appealed for public assistance in the investigation.

He requested members of the public to report any information regarding this incident to the Unit’s hotline  9911099 or police numbers 119  and 3322111.

The victim Hussein Waheed was taken into Police custody in April 2011 in a police special operation to reduce crime in the capital, in connection to a stockpile of weapons and drugs found in a Male’ house.

This is the third stabbing reported this month, a 24 year old man was attacked with a sharp object on 22 December in Male’, and on 4 December a 55 year old man was was attacked in Ha. Hoarafushi.

Two people were killed in L. Gan in two separate incidents earlier this year. Ismail Nizar, 31 was killed on 14 July whilst riding on the street, and Mohamed Hassan 54 was attacked in his sleep.

Last year ten people were killed in the Maldives in mostly gang related incidents.

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