The Criminal Court has suspended the two police lawyers who prosecuted the cases of Majlis members Gasim Ibrahim, Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom and Ahmed Nazim.
Inspectors of Police Mohamed Riyaz and Mohamed Jina were suspended for contempt of court.
The Criminal Court informed police of the decision in a letter sent to Police Commissioner on Sunday, according to a police media official, but the official refused to comment further.
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(0)Maldives is named as a winner in many categories of the Indian Ocean section of the 2010 World Travel Awards, based on voting by thousands of travel agents.
Cocoa Island won the award for the Indian Ocean’s leading boutique hotel, and Maldives is the leading cruise and honeymoon destination, Baros won the leading hotel award, and Conrad Maldives Rangali Hotel is the leading resort.
W Retreat and Spa is the leading spa resort, and Vermillion International Travel won the award for leading travel agency.
Adaaran Prestige Resorts won the leading water villa group category and Baros Residence is the leading villa.
(0)Dislikes(0)A Maldives consulate has been inaugurated in Salisbury, UK.
The High Commissioner for the Maldives, Dr Farah Faizal, and MP for Salisbury John Glen were present at the inauguration along with a delegation from the High Commission in London including Deputy High Commissioner Naushad Waheed, Political Affairs Officer Sarah Mahir and Attache Ahmed Imran.
John Glen the MP for Salisbury maintains close links to the Maldives and has visited the Maldives with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy and the UK Conservative Party.
Salisbury was used as a base by political refugees from the Maldives between 2003-2008, where activists – including the current President – lobbied the UK government, UN, Commonwealth and Human Rights NGOs. ‘Minivan Radio’ was also broadcast on shortwave from Salisbury to the Maldives.
President Nasheed sent a message to the inauguration, stating that “When I left the Maldives and became a political refugee, it was Salisbury that provided me, and fellow Maldivians, refuge. For over a year, Salisbury was the home of the Maldivian democracy struggle. It is such a beautiful town and the people were so hospitable to us Maldivians. Salisbury will always have a special place in our hearts.”
Friends of Maldives (FoM) founder David Hardingham was appointed as Honorary Consul of the Maldives in Salisbury in 2009. The former government had blacklisted Hardingham after alleging he was both a Christian missionary and part of an extremist islamic conspiracy to bomb important building in Male’.
Hardingham said he saw his role as Honorary Consul “to maintain strong links between the people of Maldives and Salisbury and to improve and promote good relations between the Maldives and the UK and to support the work of the High Commission in London.”
(0)Dislikes(0)A parakeet in Malaysia called ‘Meena Kutti’ has joined Germany’s fortune telling octopus Paul in predicting a World Cup win for Spain.
The parakeet usually predicts fortunes in business and life, but has recently begun catering to match tips – so far picking small envelopes with unerring accuracy.
“Meena is one-of-a-kind and is always accurate in her predictions,” her owner MC Mohan claimed.
Mohan, who has practiced parrot fortune-telling for more than 25 years, said he bought the bird from India has has refused to sell her despite many offers.
Fortune animals are rapidly eclipsing players as the stars of the 2010 World Cup, largely due to lacklustre performances from many favourite teams.
(0)Dislikes(0)The President and First Lady Laila Ali attended a fundraising football match a Galolhu stadium on Friday night, an event to help raise funds for NGO ‘Tiny Hearts of Maldives’.
Tiny Hearts aims to provide information, professional knowledge and support to Maldivian parents on children’s heart health issues, with a particular emphasis on congenital heart conditions.
Many local celebrities attended the successful event along with the president, including male and female TV presenters, actors, and singers.
The “Save a Tiny Heart” campaign is aimed at raising funds for heart surgery for 20 children.
(0)Dislikes(0)An image showing internal and surface waves on the Indian Ocean near the Andaman islands has been published by NASA’s Earth Observatory website.
“When tides drag the ocean over a shallow barrier such as a ridge on the ocean floor, it creates waves in the lower, denser layer of water,” Earth Observatory explains. “These waves, internal waves, can be tens of kilometers long and can last several hours.”
(0)Dislikes(0)People’s Alliance party leader Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom says letters published on a Dhivehi language website contain “fat lies” and that he had never asked a MDP Majlis member to join his political party, reports Haveeru.
Seven letters were sent recently to President Nasheed by MDP Majlis members claiming Yameen and Jumhooree party leader Ibrahim Gasim had tried to bribe them. The letters in PDF format published on the website are two letters signed by Hulhumeedhoo Majlis member Ilyas Labeeb, and five letters signed individually by Madaveli member Mohamed Nazim, Kedhikulhudhoo member Ahmed Eesa, Thinadhoo member Mohamed Gasam, Machangoalhi-South member Mohamed Rasheed and Baarashu member Mohamed Shifaz.
At the end of last month, letters were presented as evidence by the police at the High Court as evidence supporting charges of treason and bribery against Yameen and Gasim, but Haveeru ‘could not confirm if the letters are the same’. The letters on the website claim that Yameen and Gasim offered ‘rewards’ if the MDP Majlis members join the opposition People’s Alliance and Jumhooree Party, according to Haveeru. Mohamed Gasam confirmed the credibility of his letter and said it was sent to the President because of offers he had been receiving from Gasim since February.
Ilyas Labeeb told Haveeru he had not seen the leaked letters, but when the contents of the two letters signed with his name were read out, he confirmed that he had written a letter “to that effect”. President’s Office press secretary Mohamed Zuhair told Haveeru he could not confirm the credibility of the letters. “I have also seen the letters,” said Zuhair. “I cannot say whether the [leaked] letters were the letters sent by the MPs [to the President], since the investigation is underway.”
(0)Dislikes(0)A law to protect the rights of intellectually disabled Maldivians, and provide them with financial assistance, has been ratified by President Nasheed.
The Special Needs bill, passed by the Majlis on 22 June, contains “principles and procedures” to provide “protection and financial assistance to people with special needs,” according to the President’s Office website.
The bill was originally passed by the Majlis on 21 December 2009 but was returned by the President for reconsideration of articles that, in his opinion, contravened international standards and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
(0)Dislikes(0)Under the Constitution and conventions, the President has the power to seek nominations to the Civil Service Commission and submit nominations to the Majlis, said President Nasheed in his weekly radio address. Making nominations for the commission to the Majlis was not its legal role, said the President, and he was returning amendments to the Civil Service Act to the Majlis for reconsideration.
The power of the President to seek and receive nominations to the commission, and select applicants, is removed under an amendment to Article 13 of the Act passed by the Majlis on 22 June. This power would be taken by the Majlis, and the President would have to appoint whoever they selected. The President would not have power of approval, unlike the power of approval given to the Majlis under the original Act.
A secret ballot would be used by the Majlis to appoint the chairperson and deputy chairperson of the commission under an amendment to Article 17 of the Act.
The Majlis would have the power to dismiss members of the commission if their actions are “inappropriate”, or if they are unable or incapable of fulfilling their duties in the view of the Majlis, according to an amendment to Article 15 of the Civil Service Act.
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