Month: September 2014

Civil Court rules customs has authority to confiscate imported goods

The Civil Court has ruled that the Maldives Customs Service (MCS) has the legal authority to confiscate goods imported by companies or individuals with outstanding tax payments to the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA).

In a judgment delivered on Thursday (September 11), the court ruled against a claimant, Fuad Zahir from Mariyammage in Gaaf Alif Kolamaafushi, who contested the custom’s seizure of a shipment imported under his name.

The customs had confiscated the shipment due to unpaid taxes.

The MCS was authorised to take the action under import and export laws as well as the Customs Act, the judge noted, and rejected the claim for compensation of losses incurred due to the confiscation of goods.

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Over 35 sentences not enforced, reveals Criminal Court Chief Judge Abdulla Mohamed

Some 37 sentences remain unenforced due to lack of cooperation from the relevant authorities, Chief Judge Abdulla Mohamed said at a ceremony held last night to mark the anniversary of the Criminal Court.

Judge Abdulla reportedly criticised police for incomplete investigations and lack of attention to the Constitution and the law.

The Criminal Court also lacks a suitable environment for state prosecutors and witnesses to present testimony, he said.

According to local media, Juvenile Court Chief Judge Mohamed Naeem, also president of the Judges Association, said the Maldivian judiciary is now fully independent and free of undue influences.

Prior to the adoption of the new constitution in 2008 – which separated the judiciary from the executive – Naeem said judges and state attorneys would sometimes sit together to write verdicts.

Judges also delivered verdicts and judgments based on instructions from a committee of the now-defunct justice ministry, he said.

Speaking as chief guest at the event, Naeem said judges at the Criminal Court should be provided adequate security and criticised the Supreme Court for not formulating rules on issuing risk allowances for employees in the judiciary.

Responding to criticism over delays in concluding cases, Naeem said the judiciary’s speed was not slow when the number of judges, staff and resources at its disposal was taken into consideration.

The court’s annual report was released at last night’s event and certificates were awarded to staff at the Criminal Court in recognition of their work.

In March 2011, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) demoted Naeem from the Civil Court to the Juvenile Court as a disciplinary measure. A week later, the JSC appointed Naeem chief judge at the Juvenile Court.

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Warning issued to government in Dharumavantha mosque Friday sermon

A stern warning was issued to the government in an unauthorised Friday sermon delivered at the Dharumavantha mosque in Malé.

According to online news outlet CNM and opposition-aligned private broadcaster Raajje TV, the imam of the independent prayer congregation slammed the government’s efforts to shut down the mosque.

The government was trying to declare “war” against the congregation, the imam said, and prayed for failure of the alleged plans.

A prayer was also offered against the government’s alleged efforts against the “true invitation” and for God to strike fear into the hearts of police and army officers who might rise against the true invitation.

In February this year, the Malé City Council shut down the Dharumavantha mosque at the request of the Islamic Ministry to stop unauthorised Friday prayers by a group described as “extremist” by Islamic Minister Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed.

Following a notice posted on the mosque announcing that it would be shut down, the independent congregation gathered for prayers the next Friday and prayed for God to destroy the government and for victory against the “irreligious” government which was attempting to obstruct the spreading of Allah’s message and to shut down mosques.

Requesting victory, they also prayed for God to destroy and send his wrath upon military and police officer who implement the government’s orders.

Despite efforts to shut down the mosque, the independent congregation has continued Friday prayers at the mosque.

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Worry over Xi’s trip to Maldives: The Telegraph (Calcutta)

“Chinese President Xi Jinping’s planned visit to the Maldives tomorrow has set off alarm bells in India’s foreign policy establishment amid worries that the atoll nation may, after a brief hiatus, again be swinging strategically away from New Delhi and closer to Beijing,” writes Charu Sudan Kasturi for the Telegraph.

Xi will be the first Chinese President to travel to the country, when he lands in Male on Sunday with First Lady Peng Liyuan and over 100 businessmen. Xi and his wife, one of China’s best-known singers from the 1980s,will then visit Sri Lanka on Monday before flying to India on Wednesday for a three-day trip.

The Chinese President’s visit to the Maldives comes less than a month after its President, Abdulla Yameen, travelled to Beijing and returned with promises of free financial aid and investments in key infrastructure projects.

Yameen, after his election in November last year, had said strengthening ties with India would be his priority following a bruising two years in bilateral relations, and had sent initial signals that comforted New Delhi.

But away from the public eye, relations between India and the Maldives have once again become testy over the past few months over diplomatic and strategic decisions taken by Yameen that hint at a subtle but growing proximity to China, senior officials have said.

‘We’ve been off the ball a bit on the Maldives, and things are tricky again,’ an official said. ‘The Chinese President’s visit to the Maldives is emblematic of that simmering unease.’ ”

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Addu City Council denies disagreement over stadium lights

The Addu City Council has denied President Abdulla Yameen’s claim that a project to install lights at the Feydhoo stadium was stalled due to disagreements within the council.

Newspaper Haveeru quoted Deputy Mayor Abdulla Thoyyib as saying that contrary to Yameen’s remarks in Feydhoo last week, the project to upgrade stadiums in the southernmost atoll was financed out of the city council’s budget.

The project was awarded to the Hithadhoo Southern Maldives Contracting and Trading Company, Thoyyib explained, and remained stalled due to disagreements among youth in the island.

Four youth associations met the council last month and presented plans for installing the lights, he added.

Final preparations were underway to install the lights in accordance with the wishes of the youth groups, Thoyyib said.

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Vice President Dr Jameel in midnight meeting with former Health Minister Dr Shakeela

Vice President Dr Mohamed Jameel Ahmed met former Health Minister Dr Mariyam Shakeela at the latter’s residence on Thursday night (September 11), reports local media.

Opposition-aligned private broadcaster Raajje TV reported eyewitnesses as saying that Shakeela greeted the vice president upon his arrival at the Manaam building around 9pm.

With the press gathered outside, Dr Jameel reportedly left the building in his official state car around 3:10am in the early hours of Friday.

Reporters spotted the vice president and his wife in the car with bodyguards.

The Ministry of Health has been headed by Defence Minister Colonel (Retired) Ahmed Nazim after Shakeela’s renomination was rejected by the Majlis last month.

In an interview with Haveeru last week, Dr Shakeela alleged death threats and intimidation prior to her departure, suggesting that political opponents wished to remove her in order to benefit from corrupt development deals.

“When I was given the post, some people said this can’t be done by bringing in someone from far outside after we worked hard to bring this government,” she was quoted as saying.

“So from the start there were some people who were bent on showing that I was a failure.”

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Chinese President Xi Jinping due to visit Maldives

Chinese President Xi Jinping is due to arrive in the Maldives on an official state visit next week in the first ever trip to the country by a Chinese head of state.

“During his stay in the Maldives, President Xi will be officially ‎meeting President [Abdulla] Yameen one-on-one,” the President’s Office revealed in a statement.

“The two leaders will chair official talks between high-level delegations of the respective countries.‎”

A number of bilateral agreements “on advancing developmental corporation in various identified ‎fields” would be signed during the visit, the President’s Office said.

“Furthermore, two development projects in the Maldives that are ‎funded by the Chinese Government and implemented by Chinese ‎corporations will also be launched jointly by the two presidents,” the statement added.

President Yameen extended an invitation to visit the Maldives to Xi Jinping during official talks held in Nanjing last month.

A 200-strong delegation, including representatives from major Chinese companies, is expected to accompany the Chinese president.

Speaking at a Progressive Party of Maldives event on Thursday, President Yameen reportedly said that the imminent visit of one of the most influential world leaders was an honour for the Maldives.

China was a global economic powerhouse with one of the fastest growing economies in the world, Yameen noted.

“[Xi Jinping] is beginning his Asian tour in the Maldives. He is arriving one month to the day after I returned to the Maldives after visiting China,” Yameen was quoted as saying by newspaper Haveeru.

“We will use the visit to bring development for the people. During the Chinese president’s visit, [he] will agree to do many things for the Maldives.”

China bridge

Upon returning from a visit to China last month, Yameen said the Chinese government has pledged assistance in building a bridge connecting the capital Malé and Hulhumalé.

According to the President’s Office, President Yameen expressed his desire for the bridge to be known as the ‘China Bridge’ “to symbolise the friendly ties between the two countries” during a meeting with Xi Jinping.

Speaking to the press, Yameen revealed that the Chinese president recommended forming a high-level China-Maldives joint commission to oversee the project.

The Chinese president was also briefed about other ‘mega projects’ the government plans to commence, Yameen said, adding that “major Chinese contractors” would undertake the projects.

The Chinese government could ensure that loan facilities sought from the Chinese EXIM bank would be provided at a very low interest rate, he explained.

Meetings also took place between the Maldivian delegation and “large Chinese civil works companies,” Yameen noted.

Based on assurances from Xi Jinping, Yameen expressed confidence of receiving significant assistance from the Chinese government for the bridge project.

The Chinese government also provided MVR250 million (US$16 million) as grant aid during the president’s trip.

Discussions also focused on “important matters for China in international diplomacy,” Yameen revealed, referring to the the Chinese ‘New Silk Road’ project, which he said was intended to foster economic relations and increase trade between China and Asia-Pacific nations.

“We requested participation in the Silk Road initiative and were immediately welcomed,” he said.

Yameen said the Maldives would back China in the international arena as the two countries shared “the same principles on a number of issues, especially concerning the Indian Ocean region, human rights and many such matters.”

Asked if closer ties with China would adversely impact relations with India or Japan, Yameen said Sino-Maldives economic cooperation would not affect “the very friendly, close relations with India”.

“All these projects are also open to India and we are doing a lot of diplomatic work with India,” he said, referring to his administration’s decision not to sign a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with the United States as an example of cooperation.

“No country has expressed concern so far and I don’t believe they will either,” he said.

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National football team captain Ashfaq awarded green passport

The government has awarded national football team captain Ali Ashfaq a green passport on Thursday (September 11), reports local media, becoming the first sportsman to receive the green passport privilege.

Defence Minister Colonel (Retired) Mohamed Nazim presented the passport to Ashfaq at a ceremony held at the department of immigration and emigration.

Green passports are used by senior government officials above the rank of director general during official overseas visits.

In May, Ashfaq was also appointed the country’s first sports ambassador by the Maldives Olympic Committee.

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Viral fever, dengue, diarrhoea speading, warns health protection agency

Viral fever, dengue, common cold, and diarrhoea is spreading across the Maldives at an alarming rate, the health protection agency (HPA) has warned.

In a health alert issued yesterday (September 12), the agency revealed that 2,000 cases of common cold, 500 cases of diarrhoea, 800 cases of viral fever, and 500 cases of dengue fever were reported across the country during the past week.

The HPA cautioned that common cold and viral fever were highly contagious diseases and advised those affected to drink lots of liquids.

The agency also advised taking precautionary measures to prevent breeding of mosquitos during rainy weather.

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